Hospital Pharmacy

To establish a cost-effective centralized pharmacy call center to serve the patients of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 11 that would meet established performance metrics.

A pilot project began in August 2011 with the Indianapolis VA Medical Center (VAMC) and the Health Resource Center (HRC) in Topeka, Kansas. The Indianapolis VAMC used a first-call resolution business model consisting of pharmacy technicians receiving tier 1 phone calls that could be escalated to a tier 2 line that consisted of lead technicians and pharmacists, while the HRC utilized general telephone agents that would transfer unresolved calls to the primary facility. Pre- and post-VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center performance metrics were compared for each of the 7 facilities in the network with the goals being monthly average abandoned call rate less than 5% and average speed to answer less than 30 seconds. Cost per call was also compared.

The average abandoned call rate for the network during the year prior to VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center implementation (August 2010-July 2011) was 15.66% and decreased to 3% in July 2014. The average abandoned call rate decreased for each individual facility. In fiscal year 2014, the VISN 11 Pharmacy Call Center was operating at a cost of $4.35 per call while providing more services than the HRC, resulting in less workload being transferred back to the individual facilities.

A centralized VISN pharmacy call center is a reasonable alternative to individual facility call centers or the HRC.

To evaluate the physical compatibility of vancomycin with piperacillin-tazobactam during simulated Y-site administration.

Vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam were tested using 2 different diluents: 0.9% sodium chloride and 5% dextrose for injection. Vancomycin concentrations of 2, 5, and 10 mg/mL were tested using 0.9% sodium chloride and 4 and 8 mg/mL in 5% dextrose. Piperacillin-tazobactam was diluted to 16, 30, 40, 80, and 100 mg/mL, representing common concentrations used clinically in hospitals, and concentrations were tested in both 0.9% sodium chloride and 5% dextrose for injection. Medications were reconstituted under USP <797> aseptic technique. Combinations were tested in duplicate and reverse order with control solutions. Compatibility testing for Y-site included visual inspection, inspection with a high-intensity monodirectional light source (Tyndall beam), turbidimeter for turbidity evaluation, pH, and microscopic viewing. Testing occurred immediately after mixing, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, and 4 hours. If inconsistencies were observed between samples, testing was repeated to confirm results. Solutions were deemed incompatible if any one test failed and compatible if all tests were accepted.

When dextrose 5% for injection was used as the diluent, vancomycin 4 mg/mL was Y-site compatible with piperacillin-tazobactam 16, 30, and 40 mg/mL and incompatible with 80 and 100 mg/mL. Vancomycin 8 mg/mL was incompatible with all tested concentrations of piperacillin-tazobactam. When 0.9% sodium chloride was used as the diluents, Y-site compatibility was found with vancomycin 2 and 5 mg/mL and all tested concentrations of piperacillin-tazobactam. Vancomycin 10 mg/mL was incompatible with piperacillin-tazobactam 40, 80, and 100 mg/mL. Incompatibilities formed a white precipitate immediately on mixing.

Y-site incompatibility was greater for the tested concentrations of piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin when 5% dextrose was used as the diluent versus 0.9% sodium chloride. Y-site incompatibility was seen immediately in the form of a white precipitate on mixing.

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder and is associated with multiple comorbidities. Management strategies are varied and etiology-dependent. The use of tolvaptan, a vasopressin antagonist, outside of clinical trials has not been well characterized.

To quantify tolvaptan compliance with institutional guidelines and make recommendations concerning reasonable expectations for its role in hyponatremia management.

This was a retrospective observational study in a 125-bed community hospital. Patients admitted in 2013 who received at least one dose of tolvaptan were included.

Thirty-seven patient encounters were evaluated. Tolvaptan was prescribed with 83.7% adherence to the institutional order set. Mean age was 71 ± 16.4 years with 20 (54%) females. Hyponatremia was a contributory cause of admission in 15 (40.5%) patients and offending medications were discontinued in 7 (19%). Causes of hyponatremia included syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), heart failure, and cirrhosis in 78.3%, 8.2%, and 13.5% of participants, respectively. Management included fluid restriction in 19 (51%) and furosemide in 5 (13.5%), with tolvaptan administration on average 3.2 days after admission. Most patients (78.4%) required ≤2 doses. Sodium concentration was elevated 8 mEq/L by the end of hospitalization. Discharge to palliative care or death occurred in 8 (21.6%). Postdischarge review revealed 3 (8%) maintained sodium concentration ≥130 mEq/dL.

Tolvaptan was initiated after other interventions and with limited duration per institutional guidelines. This cohort had complicating underlying chronic diseases. These results will be used to refine recommendations with pharmacist input for risk/benefit stratification based on reasonable expectations.

Hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma routinely have inhaled medications ordered for acute and maintenance therapy. Treatment may be administered via metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or dry-powder inhaler (DPI). These products must be appropriately labeled to be released home with the patient or discarded before discharge.

To assess the amount and estimated cost of wasted doses of medications via MDI or DPI for hospitalized patients with COPD/asthma.

A retrospective study was conducted at a university-affiliated hospital. Patients admitted between January 2011 and June 2012 with a primary diagnosis of COPD or COPD with asthma and who were ≥40 years of age were included. Information collected included use of albuterol, ipratropium, inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting beta agonist, or tiotropium and whether treatments were given by nebulizer, MDI, MDI plus valved holding chamber (VHC), or DPI. The number of doses dispensed, as well as doses not used, via MDI, MDI + VHC, or DPI were collected from electronic medical records. Costs associated with wasted medications were evaluated.

Of 555 patient admissions screened, 478 (mean age, 66 years; 58% women; 74% African American) met study criteria. Of the total MDI or DPI doses dispensed, 87% were wasted, and associated hospital cost was approximately $86,973.

Substantial waste of inhaled medications was found in our study. Practical strategies are needed to reduce wasted inhalers. Further assessment of this problem is needed in other US hospitals.

To present a case report and literature review of phenytoin-induced purple glove syndrome (PGS).

A 54-year-old African American male presented to our hospital's emergency department (ED) following a seizure episode, cardiac arrest, and loss of consciousness. On arrival to the ED, the patient's total phenytoin level was subtherapeutic at 4.1 mcg/mL and his corrected total phenytoin level was subtherapeutic at 5.1 mcg/mL. In the ED, the patient received a loading dose of intravenous (IV) phenytoin 1,000 mg once via the left cephalic vein, at a rate of 50 mg/min, and was admitted to the medicine service. A day following IV phenytoin administration, a nurse noticed an IV fluid infiltration on the skin tissue around the left cephalic vein. The area appeared dark blue and purple in color, swollen, erythematous, and warm to touch. An ultrasound of the left upper extremity was performed and revealed subcutaneous fluid collection without evidence of thrombosis.

The Naranjo Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale assigned a score of 7, indicating phenytoin as the probable cause of purple glove syndrome (PGS). The patient's PGS was managed with a combination of dry dressing material, left forearm elevation, collagenase topical cream, 0.1% IV bupivacaine, and IV fentanyl. The patient's injury was resolving at the time of discharge to a rehabilitation facility.

PGS is a rare complication of IV phenytoin therapy. The risk of PGS for this patient may have been abated by decreasing the phenytoin infusion rate from 50 mg/min to less than 25 mg/min.