J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 9 7
a
re ready-
to-use pre-
filled med-
ications
from com-
pounding pharmacies
a wise investment for
your surgical facility?
Coming up with the
answer requires some
thoughtful introspec-
tion, says Becki Allen,
RN, CNOR, the nurse
administrator at
Apollo Surgery Center
in West Melbourne,
Fla.
About a year ago,
Apollo Surgery Center
decided to adopt a handful of anesthesia and emergency medications
as prefilled syringes from a compounding pharmacy — atropine,
ephedrine and succinylcholine, specifically. Safety was the key moti-
vating factor in the decision, says Ms. Allen.
"Prefilled syringes ensure that we use one syringe for each patient
every time, that we're not 'double dipping,' which could lead to an
Are Prefilled
Syringes Worth It?
Weighing the pros and cons of ready-to-administer compounded drugs.
• WASTE NOT The potential benefits of prefilled syringes include improved safety, reduced waste and labor savings.
Bill Donahue
Senior Editor