KeePosted Info

• Pharmacists are universally recognized as health care professionals and essential providers of health care services.
• Patients are aware of the training, skills, and abilities of a pharmacist and the fundamental role that pharmacists play in optimizing medication therapy.
• Formally educated, appropriately trained, and PTCB certified pharmacy technicians manage the medication distribution process with appropriate pharmacist oversight.
• Pharmacists improve patient care and medication safety through the development of effective public policies by interacting and collaborating with patients, other health care professionals and their respective professional societies, government agencies, employers and other concerned parties.
• Evidence-based practices are used to achieve safe and effective medication therapies.
• There are an adequate number of qualified pharmacy leaders within the pharmacy profession.
• Pharmacists take primary responsibility for educating pharmacy technicians, pharmacy students, pharmacist peers, other health professionals, and patients about appropriate medication use.

History of Organized Hospital Pharmacy In Illinois: The 1970s

Congratulate ICHP on 50 Years

Submitting an Ad:

Meet Cassidy McDonald

Hi, my name is Cassidy McDonald, and I am currently a fourth year pharmacy student at University of Illinois College of Pharmacy at the Rockford campus. I am from Ottawa, Illinois, which is an hour south from Rockford. I completed my pre-pharmacy coursework at Illinois Valley Community College. I then moved on to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked as a Pharmacy Technician at CVS Pharmacy. Once I was accepted to pharmacy school, I was offered a student position at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

When I am not studying for exams or preparing for a presentation, I love to spend time with my family and friends. My hobbies include hiking, walking, shopping, traveling, baking, and volunteer activities. I have two dachshunds, Lizzy and Duke, and I love spending time and traveling with them.

Meet Jamie Tidaback

Hi, my name is Jamie Tidaback and I’m a P-4 student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (Rockford campus). I was born in Mississippi and lived there for 10 years before moving to Spring Valley, Illinois. I graduated from Hall High School in 2005 and continued my education at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC), where I completed my pharmacy pre-requisites. After IVCC, I commuted to Northern Illinois University to receive my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. I graduated from NIU in 2010. Since 2006, I’ve been a pharmacy technician for CVS/Pharmacy in Peru, Illinois. In my free time, I volunteer for my local March of Dimes chapter, have coached girls’ softball, and spend time with my two wonderful black Labradors.  I enjoy watching movies and sports (go Cubs go!), as well as participating in sporting events.

So, why are you reading this in ICHP’s KeePosted newsjournal? Well, for my first rotation I selected to complete six weeks at the ICHP headquarters in Loves Park, Illinois. My preceptor is Scott Meyers and I’m also working with another student from the UIC-Rockford campus, Cassidy McDonald. I chose this rotation because I wanted something that was out of my comfort zone. Honestly, I’m not very familiar with a lot of legislative material, so I wanted to see what I could pick up on and become more comfortable with this topic in pharmacy. So far, the staff is very friendly and welcoming and always willing to explain how something is done. I look forward to attending Board meetings, planning for ICHP’s 50th Anniversary, and any other behind-the-scenes action that ICHP has to offer. I feel that I will take away a lot from this ICHP rotation at the end of six weeks.

Register Now for the 2013 Annual Meeting

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND MEETING

• Considerations for the Front Line Pharmacist

• It Can Get Complicated: Common Post-Op Complications

• Improving Control of Symptoms and Optimizing Patient Outcomes

• Forging into Ambulatory Care: MTM Service Models in Traditional Clinics and Newer Models of Care

• Opportunities for Pharmacy to Impact Inpatient Quality Measures

• Essential Guidelines for Hospital Pharmacists in Acute Coronary Syndrome

• Pharmacy Practice

• Pharmacy Technology

• Technician

• Student

• Exhibit Hall

• Residency Showcase

• 50th Anniversary Cake Celebration

• 50th Anniversary Gala*

Join Us for the Residency Showcase!

President's Message
Discovery at a Local Affiliate Meeting

by Tom Westerkamp, ICHP President

Directly Speaking
Tech-Check-Tech: A Dream That Will Soon Come True!

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

h)  An on-site institutional pharmacy practice that has an ongoing clinical pharmacy program may allow certified pharmacy technicians to check the work of other pharmacy technicians (“tech-check-tech program”) in connection with the filling of floor and ward stock, automated dispensing and storage systems, and unit dose distribution systems for patients admitted to the hospital whose orders have previously been reviewed and approved by a licensed pharmacist. The pharmacy shall have on file and available for review, a description of the clinical pharmacy program prior to initiating a tech-check-tech program.

(1)  This subsection shall only apply to acute care inpatient hospital pharmacy settings. 

(2)  Hospital pharmacies that have a tech-check-tech program shall deploy pharmacists to the inpatient care setting to provide clinical services. 

(3)  Products compounded or repackaged in the pharmacy must have been previously checked by a pharmacist and then may be used by the technician to fill unit dose distribution systems, and floor and ward stock. 

(4)  To ensure quality patient care and reduce medication errors, programs that use a tech-check-tech program pursuant to this subsection must include the following components: 

(A)  The overall operation of the program shall be the responsibility of the pharmacist-in-charge. 

(B)  The program shall be under the direct supervision of a pharmacist and the parameters for the direct supervision shall be specified in the facility’s policies and procedures manual.

(C)  The certified pharmacy technician who performs the checking function has received specialized and advanced training as prescribed in the policies and procedures of the facility. 

(D)  The tech-check-tech program shall be operated only with an ongoing evaluation system in place.

Board of Pharmacy Update
Highlights from the July Meeting

by Scott A. Meyers, Executive Vice President

Medication Safety Pearl
Stepwise Implementation of Total Pharmacy Medication Reconciliation

by Jenan Eileen Dailey, PharmD; Christina Sun Hwa Choi, PharmD; Yen Yvonne Duong, PharmD; Deborah Rehder, PharmD

Phase III: Figure 2 shows a comparison of the medication reconciliations initiated by pharmacy students versus nurses.  In general, pharmacy-led medication reconciliations had:

• Fewer medications missed upon admission with 0.23 vs. 1.21 respectively (p=0.01)
• More OTC medications per list with 2.47 vs. 1.36 respectively (p=0.04)
• More home medications given in the hospital with 5.68 vs. 4.5 respectively (p=0.33)

Discharge counseling: The types of changes to patients’ medication lists at discharge were different between groups when initial medication lists were generated by nurses or pharmacy students

• Pharmacy student group changes (Figure 3)
• Nursing group changes (Figure 4)

ICHPeople

Congratulations to ICHP President, Tom Westerkamp, and his wife, Diane, who welcomed their first grandchild in July! Their grandson, Nathan Thomas Filas, was born to their daughter, Laura, and her husband, Ken, on July 11, 2013.

The GAS From Springfield
The New Practice Act Rules Are Here! The New Practice Act Rules Are Here!

by Jim Owen and Scott Meyers

Section 1330.640 Pharmaceutical Compounding Standards 

 

The minimum standards and technical equipment considered adequate for compounding drugs shall include:

All pharmaceutical compounding standards, both sterile and non-sterile, shall be governed by the USP-NF, as set forth in the USP Compounding- Guidelines for the Compounding Practitioner (2013 ed.), except:

a)  The size of the compounding area shall be of sufficient size to allow for appropriate performance of processes depending on the scope and volume of sterile compounding to be performed.

b)  A pharmacy may only compound pursuant to a patient-specific prescription.

c)  A drug may not be compounded for office use. However, a compounded drug may be delivered to the prescribing practitioner’s office for administration to the patient for whom the drug was compounded.

d)  All pharmacies that dispense drugs must maintain, at minimum, the following standards and equipment:

a)1)  A storage area separate for materials used in compounding.

 

b)2)  Scales and balances for the compounding done in the pharmacy.

 

c)3)  An area of the pharmacy used exclusively for compounding activities.

 

d)4)  A heating apparatus.

 

e)5)  A logbook or record keeping system to track each compounded prescription and the lot number and beyond-use date of components used.

f)6)  A book or reference containing formulas with directions for compounding. The books and references may be in electronic format and/or available via the Internet. The USP Compounding- Guidelines for the Compounding Practitioner (2013 ed.)

g)  The pharmacy operations manual shall contain the policies and procedures pertinent to the level of complexity and the size of the compounding operations of the practice at that specific pharmacy. Electronic versions are acceptable.

h)7)  Consumable materials, as appropriate to the pharmacy services provided at that specific pharmacy, such as filter paper, powder papers, empty capsules, ointment jars, bottles, vials, safety closures, powder boxes, labels and distilled water.

 

i)  The pharmacy may compound drug products to be used by practitioners in their office for administration to patients.

 

j)  Sales of compounded drugs to other pharmacies not under common ownership, or to clinics, hospitals or manufacturers are not allowed, except for sales provided by pharmacies contracted to provide centralized prescription filling services pursuant to Section 25.5 of the Act, including compounding in anticipation of receiving a prescription or order based on routine, readily observed dispensing patterns.

e)  For sterile compounding, a pharmacy must comply with the following requirements:

1)  The following current resource materials and texts shall be maintained in the pharmacy:

 

A)  American Hospital Formulary Service;

 

B)  Copies of the Act and this Part, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and 77 Ill. Adm. Code 3100, 21 CFR and the Illinois Hypodermic Syringes and Needles Act [720 ILCS 635];

 

C)  One compatibility reference such as:

 

i)  Trissel's Handbook on Injectable Drugs;

 

ii)  King's Guide to Parenteral Admixtures; or

 

iii)  Any other Division approved publication;

 

D)  A file or reference on extended (more than 24 hours) stability data given to finished preparations.

 

2)  Staffing. A pharmacist shall be accessible at all times at each licensed facility to respond to patients' and health professionals' questions and needs. A 24-hour telephone number will be included on all labeling of compounded medication and medication infusion devices if used off site.

 

3)  Drug Distribution and Control

 

A)  Patient Profile or Medication Record System.  A pharmacy generated patient profile or medication record system shall be maintained in addition to the prescription file.  The patient profile or medication record system shall contain, at a minimum:

 

i)  Patient's full name;

 

ii)  Date of birth or age;

 

iii)  Gender;

 

iv)  Compounded sterile preparations dispensed;

 

v)  Date dispensed, if off site;

 

vi)  Drug content and quantity;

 

vii)  Patient directions, if preparation being administered off site;

 

viii)  Identifying number;

 

ix)  Identification of dispensing pharmacist and, if applicable, pharmacy technician;

 

x)  Other drugs or supplements the patient is receiving, if provided by the patient or his or her agent;

 

xi)  Known drug sensitivities and allergies to drugs and foods;

 

xii)  Diagnosis; and

 

xiii)  Lot numbers of components or individual medicine if the compounded sterile preparation is not used within 48 hours after preparation.

 

B)  Labeling.  Each compounded sterile preparation dispensed to patients shall be labeled with the following information, using a permanent label:

 

i)  Name, address and telephone number of the licensed pharmacy, if not used within facility;

 

ii)  Administration date and identifying number if used on site, date dispensed, and identifying number if used off site;

 

iii)  Patient's full name and room number, if applicable;

 

iv)  Name of each drug, strength and amount;

 

v)  Directions for use and/or infusion rate if used off site;

 

vi)  Prescriber's full name if used off site;

 

vii)  Required controlled substances transfer warnings, when applicable;

 

viii)  Beyond use date and time;

 

ix)  Identity of pharmacist compounding and dispensing, or other authorized individual; and

 

x)  Auxiliary labels storage requirements, if applicable.

 

C)  The pharmacist-in-charge shall ensure that records are maintained for 5 years and are readily retrievable and in a format that provides enforcement agents an accurate and comprehensive method of monitoring distribution via an audit trail.  The records shall include at least the following information:

 

i)  Patient profile;

 

ii)  Medication record system;

 

iii)  Purchase records; and

 

iv)  Lot numbers of the components used in compounding sterile prescriptions/orders traceable to a specific patient, if not included on patient profile and if the preparation is not utilized within 48 hours after preparation.

 

4)  Delivery Service. The pharmacist-in-charge shall assure the environmental control of all preparations shipped or delivered off site. Therefore, any compounded, sterile pharmaceutical must be shipped or delivered to a patient in temperature controlled (as defined by USP Standards) delivery containers.

 

5)  Emergency Medications. Pharmacies that dispense compounded sterile preparations to patients in facilities off site or for administration in the patient's residence shall stock supplies and medications appropriate for treatment of allergic or other common adverse effects, to be dispensed upon the prescription or order of an authorized prescriber.

These new rules now basically require compliance to USP Chapter 797 for all institutions or compounding pharmacies that prepare sterile compounds. For many, this change is what has been requested and even pleaded for. For many others, this change has been dreaded since 797 jumped into the national spotlight in 2007.

Within this section of the new rules are some curious requirements that can hopefully be clarified quickly.

b) A pharmacy may only compound pursuant to a patient-specific prescription. Does this mean that a pharmacy may no longer compound in anticipation of patient specific prescriptions or orders? That’s a problem.

d) All pharmacies that dispense drugs must maintain, at minimum, the following standards and equipment: Should “dispense” really be changed to “compound”?

d) 5) A logbook or record keeping system to track each compounded prescription and the lot number and beyond-use date of components used. 

Is this logbook to be used for non-sterile compounds only? Sterile Compounds are treated separately elsewhere.

d) 6) The USP Compounding Guidelines for the Compounding Practitioner is now required of all compounding pharmacies. Is a subscription to the entire USP-NF okay in its place since the latter contains all the former’s chapters and much more?

e) 2) For sterile compounding: Staffing. A pharmacist shall be accessible at all times at each licensed facility to respond to patients’ and health professionals’ questions and needs. A 24-hour telephone number will be included on the labeling of compounded medication and medication infusion devices if used off site. Does this mean all hospital pharmacies will need to be staffed on site 24/7?

New Practitioners Network
Unmatched and Scrambled – The Story of How I Rebuilt My Residency Candidacy

by Robin Carney, PharmD, PGY-1 Resident, Franciscan Health Systems, Tacoma, WA

Welcoming Midwestern University’s ICHP E-Board!

President-Elect, Carolyn Toy – As incoming President-Elect, I would like to increase student awareness and membership by better promoting and communicating information about ICHP before the start of the school year. I would also like to increase member opportunities and participation with the development of committees and would like to encourage attendance to professional meetings like Midyear by providing reimbursement on travel as an incentive. I would love to see ICHP grow and will try to ensure that it will continue to provide student members the medium to grow personally and professionally while here at Midwestern.

Treasurer, Patrick Binaday – I enjoyed being a member of ICHP during my first year of pharmacy school and I am excited to serve as this year's treasurer! One of my goals this year is to increase membership involvement in organizational events, especially in the upcoming Legislative Day. Our ICHP chapter has a great opportunity to not only make an impact in our school, but also in our community and I am delighted to be a part of it.

Historian, Carrie Park – I plan to maintain our chapter’s history by contributing to KeePosted newsletters and by utilizing social media through photographs and videos. I hope to continue spreading ICHP’s presence on campus and in our community by documenting various professional gatherings, volunteer projects, and social events. My goal in doing so is to promote both student involvement and awareness of this organization.

Professional Chair, Nabiha Mahmood – As the Professional Chair, I hope to work towards creating interest and excitement towards pharmacy residencies. Additionally, I hope to provide opportunities for students to become better prepared for life after graduation, including clinical skills development, CV/resume building and interviewing skills. I look forward to another successful year!

Philanthropy Chair, Zachary Stewart – As Philanthropy Chair, my main goal is to improve our current volunteer events while creating new opportunities for our members. I am very excited about the success of our Brown Bag Event at Mayslake, and I hope to improve this event during this coming year. I would also like to collaborate with other ICHP chapters in the Chicago area to create more healthcare-related volunteer opportunities.

Social Chair, Steven Trinh – As a returning board member, my goals are to elevate ICHP's presence and to improve membership quality through social events. In order to achieve that, I will do my best to plan exciting events throughout the year that involve more interactions among members. I plan on making this year a memorable one for all ICHP members.

Fundraising Chair, Mitch Steinbrenner – I want to introduce new fundraisers as well as improve current fundraisers. I would like for some of the newer events to be more social. It is my goal to have more than one fundraiser per quarter in order to increase our organization’s profits. I want ICHP’s fundraising events to be both memorable and successful.

Membership Chair, Ashley Brown – I am looking forward to serving as the Membership Chair for the second year and continue the growth of our ICHP chapter. I plan on expanding our chapter and providing opportunities for students to progress while in school and as postgraduates. As Membership Chair I will share my enthusiasm for the organization as well as the endless benefits offered by ICHP.

Student Leadership Development at ASHP 2013 Summer Meeting

by Alex Mersch, P-2, SSHP President, Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy, and Stephen Jankovic, P-2, SSHP Vice President, Roosevelt University College of Pharmacy

Practice Makes Perfect

by RaeAnn Hirschy, PS-3, SSHP Treasurer, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, College of Pharmacy

What…Canines are on Campus!?

by Ann Ryan, PS-2, ICHP Mental Wellness Chair, University of Illinois College of Pharmacy at Rockford

Recently, the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists (ICHP) student division at the College of Pharmacy in Rockford had a unique experience with local therapy dogs. This idea was suggested by a close friend of the ICHP Mental Wellness Committee and fellow student, Juhae Lee. On May 1, 2013 the committee invited Caring Canines to come visit with students and faculty. Final exams were scheduled for the following week, so the committee felt that it would be rather appropriate to bring a calming presence to the school community. These friendly visitors were just what we needed. There were six dogs of various breeds, ranging from a very small Papillon to a couple of large Labrador Retrievers.

It is all about the patient. Our professors repeatedly teach us that we must be creative and find ways to encourage healing and recovery in any way that will work safely. Our expertise is with “drugs” but our purpose is to ease suffering and promote healing. This experience has proven that it can be fun to step outside of our profession to see what else is out there. What place do therapy dogs have in pharmacy? I like to believe that animal therapy can enhance medication therapy. It is clear that we are entering a healthcare arena that requires interdisciplinary efforts to provide optimal patient care…or in this case interspecies.

Officers and Board of Directors

Welcome New Members!

ICHP Pharmacy Action Fund (PAC) Contributors

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