Rxpert Solutions- Patient Safety Solutions Are Our Top Priority

Pharmacy is a highly regulated industry within healthcare. Every pharmacy must follow a myriad of regulations, statutes, and guidelines from multiple agencies. Place that pharmacy within a hospital and there are even more regulations and guidelines to follow. How is your facility doing when it comes to compliance? All medication management accountability falls under the pharmacist in charge (PIC), but all PICs know it feels out of their control once the medication leaves the pharmacy department. Compliance should be consistent, but the truth is it can be very dynamic. One variable is how thorough the policies and procedures are at a facility to address compliance. Have risk assessments been done and did those assessments drive change toward compliance? Were all disciplines engaged in the assessments and were they honest so areas of vulnerability were discovered and addressed? Another variable is how seriously all disciplines adhere to the policies and procedures that have been set into place to ensure compliance. All healthcare providers must understand the need for compliance.

Moving forward, statutes, regulations and guidelines will be collectively referred to as “restrictions” because let’s be honest, that is what they feel like sometimes. While occasionally one may find a restriction that seems purposeless, the majority are there for one main reason. Improved safety. Safety for the patient and healthcare provider/staff. A facility that follows these restrictions, will also improve safety for the facility as a by product of ensured patient and staff safety.

What are the risks of non-compliance to all the “restrictions”? Patient harm is the ultimate risk. There is also the risk of harm to staff and ultimately harm to the facility in the form of financial ramifications. The financial ramifications can come from fines imposed by regulatory agencies, lawsuits filed by injured parties, and loss of business due to a marred reputation. While ensuring the facility has a comprehensive compliance program in place can be costly, the cost is far greater for facilities that lack a program.

Our pharmacy consultants at Rxpert Solutions can help you review your risk and recommend solutions. Rxpert Solutions can also assist you in correcting deficiencies identified during a survey.

Our References

Terri is absolutely phenomenal. She is an incredibly knowledgeable pharmacy resource. As the medication safety officer, the quality initiatives she implemented not only impacted the patients at our medical center but also reached into the community. Terri is a genuine professional who upholds accountability while creating community among her team members. She is a great listener to identify friction points and has actionable ideas to implement improvements.

Lab

T. Eagle. MBA, MLS(ASCP), CLS Lab Operations Manager

Terri is an expert at prospective risk identification -Failure, Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Terri participated in CHPSO Patient Safety Safe Tables and was part of the Hospital Quality Institute’s Regional Quality and Patient Safety Leader Network.
She is an excellent public speaker and communicates well with public and professional audiences. I look forward to her continued work in medication safety.

Regional Quality Network at HQI

A. Munoz, FACHE, CPHQ, CPPS VP

Terri has done a tremendous job with the controlled substance diversion program. She has had such a positive impact and has really made the hospital a safer place.

Tri-City Medical Center

Nurse Manager

We would not be where we are with the improvements we have made with opioid prescribing if it were not for Terri driving the process.

Tri-City Emergency Medical Group

Chief Physician

In addition to understanding the ins and outs of the [controlled substance use] process completely, she is very proactive in coming to me with provider issues that she detects. She truly balances the administrative duties and the regulatory components demand with a keen sense of what my practitioners do and what their needs are on the ground. Terri is instrumental in working with my department, balancing patient care, cooperation, ability, and integrity to get the job done.

UCSD Medical Center

Chief Anesthesiologist

Terri is knowledgeable and effective in pharmacy leadership. She has the ability to be able to anticipate and prepare for the future. Her ability to utilize resources effectively in this changing environment is a strong asset. She can adapt, evolve, mentor and still never say “no” when asked to assist. She exhibits great abilities to be flexible and is a “self starter”. She has a pleasant yet effective demeanor that commands results.

Candace Fong, Pharm D

System Director of Pharmacy and Medication Safety Common Spirit Health

Terri has always impressed me as being very smart. resourceful, creative, and easy to work with. Terri’s commitment to medication safety permeated our organization, raising the awareness of this important issue throughout all levels of the institution. Terri has always been engaged, cooperative, and generous with her time.

Cary Mells, MD

Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine Tri-City Medical Center

Terri has done more for the Pharmacy in her few months as Interim Pharmacy Director than any other Director has done during my 12 years here.

Anita Kennedy, MBA

VP of Ancillary Services Methodist Hospital

Patient Safety Solutions Are Our Top Priority

Our References

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