Effects of Establishing Aseptic Injection Mixture Center on Medication Safety and Hospital Profitability

Abstract

Since entering the 21st century, pharmacists have had to become true health care professionals and are no longer simple dispensers of medications. In this regard, hospital pharmacists have to use their specialist knowledge to formulate injection solutions and ensure they are prepared under aseptic conditions, since they are potentially dangerous if not prepared properly. In our institution, Asahikawa Medical College Hospital, we pharmacists have established the “Aseptic Injection Mixture Center” for the mixing of injection drugs (including total parenteral nutritions (TPNs) and anti-cancer drugs) for inand out-patients, in which we work together with the nursing staff. After its establishment, we evaluated the new center with regard to effects on hospital income and treatment safety. Over a period of 10 months, there was an increase in revenue from aseptic mixtures of TPNs and anti-cancer drugs of around 200, 000 yen per month, in part due to lower costs of consumables used in preparation of aseptic injection mixtures at the center, as compared to the former system of preparing injections in wards. The best thing about the center, however, is that it has enhanced the safety of treatment by dramatically reducing the medication errors that occurred in wards. We pharmacists are limited in number, and working together with nurses in the preparation of aseptic injection mixtures has made an important contribution to raising medication safety.