On June 15, 2017, it was announced that Hospira is voluntarily recalling “... 42 lots of 8.4% Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP, 50 mL vials; 5 lots of NeutTM (Sodium Bicarbonate 4% additive solution) 5 mL vials; 5 lots of QUELICINTM (Succinylcholine Chloride Injection, USP) 200 mg/10 mL vials; and 7 lots of Potassium Phosphates Injection, USP, 45 mM vials to the hospital/retail level.” The recall is "due to a potential for lack of sterility assurance." Those with existing inventory of the recalled lots have been instructed to stop use and distribution immediately. In addition, on June 22nd, a press release was issued to announce that "Advanced Pharma, Inc. d/b/a Avella of Houston Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Specific Lots of Potassium Phosphate and Succinylcholine Repacked and/or Compounded at its Houston Location as a Result of Hospira, Inc's June 15, 2017 Recall of Such Products Due to a Potential Lack of Sterility Assurance."
In order to keep up with the ongoing volume and complexity of drug recalls and ensure patient safety, many hospitals have turned to Intelliguard® RFID pharmacy automation solutions, enabling them to manage recalls more quickly and effectively.
Respond to Recalls in Seconds with Intelliguard® RFID Healthcare Technology
For hospital and health system pharmacy staff, the time and effort it takes to track recalled inventory can be daunting but is critical to patient safety. Intelliguard® RFID Solutions use innovative RFID healthcare technology to automate critical inventory management in the hospital pharmacy, enabling pharmacy staff to respond to recalls swiftly and thoroughly.
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology wirelessly reads and captures information stored on a tag attached to an object. The object/item-level information visibility and tracking enabled by RFID allows for quick and easy location of individual items throughout a facility, simplifying the recall process.
Because of the real-time visibility and accuracy RFID provides, medications are easier to find —and easier to remove in the event of recalls, expirations, etc. In short, RFID removes much of the stress and panic from the recall process, reduces the risk for errors and saves pharmacists and staff a significant amount of time and energy.
As one of our customers noted: “We love our new (Intelliguard) system. Just recently we had a drug recall. It was so easy to look up the lot numbers and expiration dates. We knew which drawers, which carts, which floors had the recalled drugs. It was so easy to just collect the recalls. In the past we would have to go through each and every one to find the recalled medication.”
Intelliguard® RFID Solutions include:
- Kit and Tray Management: automated replenishment and distribution of anesthesia and emergency medication kits and trays
- Linked Visibility Inventory System™: secure operating room storage and access to medication and narcotics
- Controlled Temperature Inventory Management: refrigerators and controlled temperature cabinets that automatically monitor inventory
>>Visit Intelliguard RFID Solutions to learn more
Medication Recalls: A Patient Safety Issue
As of the date of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing posting, Hospira had not received any notifications of adverse events due to the issue identified with this recall. However, as the article noted "...there is a reasonable probability that the patient may experience adverse events ranging from fever, chills and malaise, to severe adverse events including systemic invasive mycoses or systemic bacterial sepsis. The possibility of a breach in sterility assurance in distributed product, while remote, cannot be eliminated."
Health system pharmacy teams are charged with accurate medication inventory and distribution management and prioritizing patient care and well-being. Putting in place accurate and effective recall management processes is an important factor in protecting patient safety.
>>Read Respond to a Drug Recall: Easy as 1, 2, 3
If you have any questions about the Intelliguard® RFID Solutions, or how RFID technology can better help you manage drug recalls, please contact us.
