by AuBurn Pharmacy
Share
by AuBurn Pharmacy
Share
Welcome!
Happy New Year! Please reach out to our pharmacy team if there are subjects or topics that you would like to see discussed in future issues of this newsletter!
Vaccine Team to the Rescue!
We know keeping up to date with resident vaccinations can be challenging, and vaccination status has been a concern in recent surveys.
Please email vaccines@auburnpharmacies.com with any vaccination needs (or questions). Our dedicated team will take it from there! Please be patient with us as we navigate the influx of new vaccines and recommendations along with billing challenges.
Vaccine Updates
The 2024-2025 COVID vaccine is approved for a second dose those 65 years and older, 6 months from previous dose. Please note that the RSV vaccine recommendation has been updated to everyone over 75 years old and those ages 60-74 years old that are at increased risk of severe RSV. This vaccine is NOT an annual vaccine and is just given once. Please note that the recommended age for pneumonia vaccination has been decreased to those 50 years and older. With all the pneumonia vaccines available, it may be extremely confusing to know which vaccine is appropriate to give. The CDC has a great resource called PneumoRecs VaxAdvisor. It can be downloaded as an app to a phone or tablet, or it is available online.
Narcotic Destruction/Hazardous Meds
Just a reminder from our staff that medications with the bright orange stickers that read ‘Hazardous Medication’ CANNOT be returned to the pharmacy. Please dispose of at the facility accordingly. To streamline narcotic destruction please ensure staff are matching up and attaching count sheets to narcotics that are being set aside for destruction.
Integration with Pharmacy
Just as a reminder for those that have their EHR integrated with the pharmacy. New narcotic orders and narcotic order changes do NOT get sent to us, they need to be called in or faxed. Refill requests on the other hand DO come across to us.
When entering any order in PCC please ensure the proper formulation is selected, a few examples below:
- Aspirin Cap vs Tab – Always choose a tablet (formulation or chew tab)
- Omeprazole Tab vs Cap – Always choose capsule
- Metoprolol Cap vs Tab – Always choose tablet
Helpful Tips
With ongoing issues of facilities running out of narcotics on the weekends and the difficulty of getting ahold of providers. Please consider adding an order to the MAR on Wednesday to those that have narcotics to review how many doses the resident have left and evaluate if they will have enough to make it through the weekend based on scheduled frequency or history of PRN usage.
LTC/SNF Survey Trends
- Stop dates on PRN psychotropic. Per CMS regulations, there are NO exceptions (exempt diagnosis, pay status, hospice) to this regulation
- Following hold parameters or notification parameters associated with orders
- Watch for “pain level” on orders for Aspirin and glucocorticoids – they will need to be removed manually – it is not required for those medications and could open the facility up to surveyor scrutiny
STAY IN THE LOOP
