Quality Week Nov 2023

IV Preparations “Realizing your

competitive potential”

Project
Compounding Unit Department of Pharmaceutical Services
Northern Area Armed Force Hospital
Ministry of Defence Health Services

Description of the Problem Figure 1:

Intravenous (IV) therapy is a common and essential treatment for many
hospitalized patients. IV therapy involves delivering fluids, medications, blood
products, or nutrients directly into the patient’s bloodstream through a catheter
inserted into a vein. IV therapy can be life-saving, but it also carries potential
risks of infection, medication errors, adverse reactions, and waste.
That’s why IV preparation unit is a crucial service in the hospital pharmacy. IV
preparation unit is a specialized area where pharmacists and technicians prepare
sterile and accurate IV solutions in a controlled environment.

Description of the Idea

We implemented a new project in NAAFH Department of Pharmaceutical services
to improve patient safety by providing ready to use iv preparations.
The project will ensured that:
•IV solutions are prepared according to the physician’s order.
•IV solutions are prepared using the appropriate equipment and techniques.
•IV solutions are prepared following the highest standards of quality and safety
•IV solutions are prepared in a timely manner to avoid delays in therapy
•IV solutions are prepared in a cost-effective way to reduce waste and optimize
resources.
By providing IV preparation, the pharmacy can improve patient outcomes, reduce
medication errors, prevent infections, enhance efficiency, and save costs. IV
preparation unit is a vital service for patient safety and quality care.

Challenges and lesson learned

Results/ possible outcomes
• Reduced medication errors: The pharmacy staff can check the accuracy
and validity of the IV orders, perform calculations, and verify the dosage,
concentration, and compatibility of the IV drugs. This can prevent errors
such as wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong route, or wrong patient.
• Avoidance of pharmaceutical incompatibilities: The pharmacy staff can
use specialized equipment, materials, and techniques to prepare sterile and
accurate IV solutions. This can prevent physical, chemical, or biological
incompatibilities that may occur when mixing different drugs or fluids in the
same IV line.
• Correct administration procedure: The pharmacy staff can label the IV
solutions with the appropriate information, such as drug name, strength,
volume, expiration date, storage conditions, and administration instructions.
This can help the nursing staff to administer the IV solutions correctly and
safely to the patients.
• Reduction in incidence of phlebitis and microbial contamination: The
pharmacy staff can prepare the IV solutions in a controlled environment that
meets the highest standards of quality and safety. This can reduce the risk
of contamination by microorganisms or particulate matter that may cause
infection or inflammation in the patients’ veins.
• Improved use of hospital resources: The pharmacy staff can prepare the
IV solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner, avoiding delays in
therapy and reducing waste. This can optimize the use of drugs, fluids,
supplies, equipment, and personnel in the hospital.
Challenges:
•Lack of functionality related to the documentation of intravenous fluid
administration and the need for immediate software access for urgent
medication documentation.
•Varying levels of experience and infrastructure across settings and different
regulatory and ethical requirements.
•Need for investment in capacity building, monitoring, infrastructure, and well-
designed monitoring processes.
•Need for communication and coordination between staff and meaningful
engagement of stakeholders.
•Some of the lessons learned from implementing IV IV project:
•Barcode technology and real-time network connectivity can improve the
accuracy and safety of medication administration.
•A multidisciplinary group can facilitate the resolution of issues related to the
use of IV unit for different patient populations.
•A system of documentation can help to build staff and management
confidence.
•A practical guide can be useful to share the best practices and lessons learned
across different aspects of trial implementation, such as trial administration,
community engagement, and laboratory strengthening/infrastructure
Capacity Building
To Execute the project successfully a professional certified team was required,
NAAFH Department of Pharmaceutical Services introduce a complete
Certificate course that was recognized by SCHS.

Cost Benefit Analysis of the Idea Conclusions

The project of IV preparation unit inside the pharmacy was a successful and
By providing IV preparation unit, the hospital pharmacy can improve patient
innovative initiative that contributed to patient safety and quality care. The
outcomes, reduce medication errors, prevent infections, enhance efficiency, and
project can serve as a model for other hospitals that want to adopt IV unit as a
save costs. IV preparation unit is a vital service for patient safety and quality
vital service in their pharmacy department. The project can also provide
care.
valuable insights for future research and practice on IV therapy.

NAAFH Quality week 2023 by Ph.ijaz