Accreditation

USP deadline on hazardous drug handling postponed until 2019

Briefings on Accreditation and Quality, November 28, 2017

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The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) has announced it intends to push back the compliance deadline for USP Chapter <800> “Hazardous Drugs; Handling in Healthcare Settings” from July 1, 2018, to December 1, 2019.

USP <800> applies from the moment a hazardous drug is received at the loading dock all the way through to the medicine’s disposal. Its standards apply to anyone who comes into contact with hazardous drugs: nurses, physicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, loading dock personnel, etc.

“USP encourages early adoption and implementation of General Chapter <800> to help ensure a safe environment and protection of healthcare practitioners and others when handling hazardous drugs. We will continue to support our stake-holders through education and outreach,” the organization wrote in a press release.

Generally, USP’s standards on drug safety are, by law, enforced through the FDA. However, because of its nature, Chapter <800> will most often be enforced by OSHA inspectors and local and state boards of pharmacy or health, note phar-macy and hazardous materials experts.

The standards would also be used in ac-creditation surveys by The Joint Commission and other authorities having jurisdiction.

RESOURCE

•    U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention announcement: www.uspnf.com/notices/gc-800-hazardous-drugs-handling-in-healthcare-settings
•    Q&A: What you need to know about compounding medicine http://www.hcpro.com/ACC-329805-16/QA-What-you-need-to-know-about-compounding-medicine.html
 

This is an excerpt from a member only article. To read the article in its entirety, please login or subscribe to Briefings on Accreditation and Quality.

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