Medication Management
Reporting errors is not about blame—it’s about this.
Improving patient safety
There is a super Yankees fan in our pharmacy leadership group, guess who?
Margaret
The simplest and most important way to prevent infections.
Washing your hands
You are restocking the Omnicell and notice a nurse nearby. What would you do?
Ask the nurse if she needs anything urgently from the Omnicell. If it’s needed for patient care, it’s okay for her to access it. Always prioritize patient needs while continuing to restock safely.
What is the code for a fire, and what number should you dial from inside the hospital and from outside?
Its Facilities Alert: Fire Emergency and Dial #8888 in house or call 911
Using tall-man lettering (like “hydrOXYzine vs. hydrALAZINE”) helps prevent this.
LASA (Look alike sound alike) error risk
One of our supervisors has a twin sister at home. Guess who?
Scott
You should never discuss patient information here.
In public areas
How do you change your password or re-enroll your fingerprint on the Omnicell?
Go to the User Menu to either change your password or re-enroll your fingerprint. Fun fact: You can also assist a coworker with re-enrolling their fingerprint by selecting Add User Fingerprint.
What is the acronym for using a fire extinguisher?
The acronym is P.A.S.S.:
P – Pull the pin
A – Aim at the base of the fire
S – Squeeze the handle
S – Sweep side to side until the fire is out
What is a High-alert Medication?
A designated medication that bears a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error.
What was Amanda D's very first job?
At Dairy Queen
Only share patient information with these people.
Those directly involved in the patient’s care
What is the correct method to perform an inspection on the Omnicell?
The correct method is to use Cycle Count. For non-controlled medications, you can complete the count by yourself. For controlled medications, you must perform the count with a coworker, as the system requires a witness.
You see flames behind a locked supply closet. Should you try to open the door?
No. Evacuate immediately and alert emergency responders. Do not attempt to fight the fire.
This fast-acting insulin can be mixed up with Lantus (insulin glargine) if not checked carefully.
Humalog (insulin lispro)
They’re the true “timekeepers” of our team. Without them, no one would know when to show up. Who are they?
Ms. Marie and Shereef
Throwing patient labels or papers in the trash breaks HIPAA. You should use this instead.
Dispose of paper labels containing patient names or personal information in the Vital Shred bin, or
Use the red (biohazard biopeligro) bin for patient labels attached to plastic bags, or the purple bin if the patient label is attached to a medication.
You are a pharmacy technician on the floor, and a nurse asks, “Can you witness the waste with me? “What should you do?
You should politely decline, as a pharmacy Techs are not authorized to witness waste. Let the nurse know they must find another nurse to serve as the witness
There is a fire in the hallway, and you are closer to the elevator. The stairs are farther away. What should you do?
Do not use the elevator during a fire. Always use the stairs to evacuate, even if it takes longer. Elevators can malfunction or open directly into the fire, putting you at serious risk.
How do you find Hazardous AHS Assessment of Risk?
The compass- Pharmacy- Clinical Resources-Hazardous Drugs-AHS Assessment of Risk
Doug’s favorite dish is an Asian cuisine that often comes in small steamer baskets and contains dumplings filled with pork and shrimp.
Dim sum
Writing down lot numbers and expiration dates helps with this type of reporting.
Drug recall reporting
You are restocking the Omnicell with a controlled medication and notice that the count is incorrect. what are your next steps?
Omnicell will prompt you to verify the count. After verification, you will create a discrepancy report. The discrepancy must then be resolved by the previous person who accessed the medication, either from the nursing unit or pharmacy.
What should you do if you see a fire?
RACE, Rescue people in immediate danger, Alarm-Pull fire alarm and Dial emergency # 8888 to confirm location, Contain by closing all doors, Extinguish the fire only if possible. Evacuate if necessary. Horizontally then Vertically.