Pen or Vial? Improving Insulin Safety in your Patient Population
Insulin pen safety continues to be an area of concern for many health systems. Even with barcode scanning technology in place, five health systems have reported significant patient to patient exposures through insulin pens in the last ten years. During this presentation we will review gaps in the insulin pen process that can lead to exposure and review the steps Corewell Health has taken to mitigate risk. The acquisition cost of insulin pens can be a barrier to implementation. Waste and disposal of partially used pens adds to pharmacy department expenses. The use of vials offers an opportunity to mitigate the costs of insulin, but also presents unique challenges and risks to consider.
Target Audience
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technicians
Learning Objectives
Pharmacists learning objectives
1. Identify gaps that can lead to inadvertent patient to patient exposure with insulin pens.
2. Review the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Hierarchy of Effectiveness with Medication Safety Interventions.
3. Discuss risk mitigation strategies to reduce and eliminate patient harm from wrong patient exposures with insulin pens.
4. Describe the benefits and risks of using insulin vials in a hospital.
Pharmacy technician learning objective
1. Describe the benefits and risks of using insulin vials in a hospital.
2. Identify gaps that can lead to inadvertent patient to patient exposure with insulin pens.
Faculty
Gretchen Brummel, PHarmD BCPS
Pharmacy Executive Director
Communications and Education
Vizient
Jackie Stokes
Pharmacy Program Manager
Vizient
Tony Huke, PharmD, BCPS
Senior Pharmacy Executive Director
Vizient
Megan Fletcher, PharmD, DPLA
Vice President of Pharmacy Services
Corewell Health West
Kerry Yamada, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Lead Pharmacist-Family Medicine and Intensive Care
Postgraduate Pharmacy Residency Coordinator
University Health Lakewood Medical Center
Disclosure
Pharmacists (CPE)
Available Credit
- 1.00 ACPE Pharmacist
- 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
- 1.00 General CE - Attendance