Friday, September 4, 2009

USP797.org Newsletter (July 2009 Edition)

Below is a summary of the USP797.org Newsletter (a usp 797 newsletter)

usp797.org - Vendor News

07/28/09: Architect Selected to Design New State-of-the-Art Pharmacy in California

Bernstein & Associates, Architects (www.bernarch.com) is pleased to announce it has been selected to provide architectural design and equipment planning services for a new hospital pharmacy in Santa Barbara, CA.

For full text of the article, go to: http://usp797.org/NewsRelease-ArchitectSelectedforNewPharmacy-0709.htm

07/28/09: Connecticut Clean Room Corporation Expands Product Line to Include USP 797, Safety and Additional Industrial Products

Connecticut Clean Room Corporation, a manufacturer, distributor and converter of special products that meet all critical manufacturing, industrial and sanitary standards has recently expanded its product line to include USP 797, safety and additional industrial products.

For full text of the article, go to: http://usp797.org/NewsRelease-CTCleanroom-0709.htm

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USP797 Seminars Being Offered

Aseptic Processing and Compliance Tools for USP <797>
Fundamentals of Bioassay Practices
For more info go to: http://www.usp797.org/Seminars.htm

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usp797.org - Questions and Answers (latest Q&A posted on site)

RJLG Question 17: Chapter <797> states that “hazardous drugs shall be stored separately from other inventory in a manner to prevent contamination and personnel exposure”. I work in a hospital with a separate negative pressure chemo room adjacent to a positive pressure ante room. We use a separate refrigerator for chemotherapy drugs and it is only accessed by staff that are involved in the preparation and distribution of these drugs. However, this refrigerator is too large to store in our negative pressure chemo room and would adversely impact our air quality. Therefore, we store this refrigerator in a separate storage room. Since the concern of volatilization of hazardous drugs is at room temperature and these drugs are refrigerated, is this an acceptable plan?

RJLG Answer 17: Hazardous drug storage in a separate negative pressure room is preferred, but not required by USP797. It sounds as if your hazardous drugs are stored separately from other inventory and access is restricted only to authorized personnel. As long as your storage is in a manner to prevent contamination and personnel exposure, your plan may be acceptable. Hazardous drug storage must be in accordance with USP797, OSHA, and other applicable guidelines and recommendations. Your site-specific policies & procedures and hazardous drug safety plan must include conditions for storage. Also see RJLG Question 12 in this Q&A section of the USP797.org website for more information.
Answer provided as a courtesy to USP797.org by Matthew Zock of the RJ Lee Group, Inc. (RJLG). Note: Neither RJLG nor USP797.org assumes any liability for the use or interpretation of this information. Please con consult your pharmacy consultant prior to taking any actions in your pharmacy.

For more USP 797 Questions and Answers, go to: http://www.usp797.org/Questions_and_Answers.htm
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usp797.org Vendors

Pharmacy Architects
Bernstein & Associates, Architects (www.ernarch.com)

Pharmacy Construction Project Management
Empire Projects, Inc. (www.empireprojects.com)

Analytical Testing
Aemtek, Inc.
EDLab
EM Lab P&K
EMSL Analytical Inc.
Pathcon Laboratories

Cleaning Products / Contamination Control
Acute Care Pharmaceuticals
Attentus Medical Sales, Inc.
Berkshire Corporation
Blue Thunder Technologies, Inc.
Connecticut Clean Room Corporation
Contec, Inc.
Decon Labs Inc.
Dycem's CleanZone
FHP LP
Lymtech Scientific
Medical Specialties Distributors, LLC (MSD)
Techniglove International

Cleanroom Design/Build Companies:
Clean Room Technologies, Corp.
Connecticut Clean Room Corporation
TAC Americas
TCA

Compliance Action Plans
Clinical IQ, LLC
Global Quality Alliance, LLC
Lasco Services
Quality Solutions, LLC
RJ Lee Group, Inc.

Contamination Control
Building Remediation Sciences

Environmental Monitoring
AES-Chemunex, Inc.
Biotest
Building Health Check/Pure Air Control Services, Inc.
Controlled Environment Testing Association
ENV Services, Inc.
Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions
RJ Lee Group, Inc.
Technical Safety Services, Inc.

Equipment Planning
Equipment Planning, Inc. (www.equipmentplanning.org)

National USP 797 Testing Provider
Medical Technology Associates, Inc.

Software
Simplifi 797

Testing & Certification
Certco, Inc.
ENV Services, Inc.
Pure Air Control Services, Inc.
Technical Safety Services, Inc.

USP 797 Related Products
The Baker Company
CriticalPoint, LLC
EMSL Analytical Inc.
Esco Technologies
Germfree Laboratories Incorporated
Isotech Design
RJ Lee Group, Inc.
Trion, Inc. Air Purification Systems

USP 797 Related Publications
Pharmacy Design (www.pharmacydesign.org)
usp 797 (www.usp797.org)

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

New Article on Mail Order Pharmacy Design Published

Bernstein & Associates, Architects is pleased to announce the publication of a new article about mail order pharmacy design. The article was published on Pharmacy Design (www.pharmacydesign.org), the website focused on pharmacy design.

The article discusses the following pharmacy design concepts for a mail order pharmacy:

- an aesthetically pleasing pharmacy environment, combined with a focus on pharmacy workflow and pharmacy functionality
- creation of pharmacy “pod” workstations
- pharmacy pod storage
- pharmacy pod touch screen computer
- use of pharmacy counting machines, located close to each pod for increased prescription workflow
- an efficient pharmacy storage and pharmacy shelving system to house drug overstock
- provision of excess pharmacy shelving to accommodate company and stock volume growth
- custom controlled substance cabinets disguised to look identical to regular cabinets to prevent theft in the event of a break in. These cabinets are located in a central, clear area for constant monitoring and easy access.
- provision for future addition of pharmacy automation technology, as well as the addition of new pharmacist/technician teams.

To view this article: go to www.pharmacydesign.org

About Bernstein & Associates, Architects: Founded in 1990, *Bernstein & Assoc., Architects - PLLC* is an award-winning architectural firm specializing in healthcare and laboratories, with a sub-specialty in the design and construction of USP 797-compliant pharmacy facilities. Over the last three years, the firm has designed over (20) usp 797-compliant pharmacies.

For more information about pharmacy design and construction, please contact:
William N. Bernstein, AIA
Principal
Bernstein & Associates, Architects - PLLC
59 West 19th Street - 6A New York, NY 10011
T: 212.463.8200
F: 212.463.9898
E: info@bernarch.com
W: www.bernarch.com