Baxa to Feature Closed System Technology For Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs at ASHP Summer Meeting in Las Vegas, NV
At the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Summer Meeting, Baxa Corporation is demonstrating closed system technology (CST) for safe handling of antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs. The ASHP meeting, which continues through June 23rd, is sub-titled Learners & Leaders, indicating its focus on specific learning communities to advance the practical knowledge of pharmacy managers, staff and clinical pharmacists, clinical coordinators, students and technicians. Baxa Corporation markets its products specifically for this constituency, is a long-time ASHP supporter and has participated in their two annual meetings for many years.
Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 21, 2004 -- At the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Summer Meeting, Baxa Corporation is demonstrating closed system technology (CST) for safe handling of antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs. The ASHP meeting, which continues through June 23rd, is sub-titled Learners & Leaders, indicating its focus on specific learning communities to advance the practical knowledge of pharmacy managers, staff and clinical pharmacists, clinical coordinators, students and technicians. Baxa Corporation markets its products specifically for this constituency, is a long-time ASHP supporter and has participated in their two annual meetings for many years.
This year's meeting features an educational track entitled, "A Practical Approach to Evidence-Based Medicine," a good fit for Baxa Corporation's approach to product development. From its beginning in 1975, the company has focused on designing products that offered significant patient safety advantages. That safety focus continues with Baxa's ongoing support of CST, which has been documented to reduce or eliminate human exposure to toxic hazards in the workplace.
CST consists of a set of disposable containment devices that connect the original drug vial, syringe and IV injection or infusion set together into a completely sealed pathway. The system's double membrane prevents drug leakage and keeps the connections dry. A built-in expansion chamber equalizes system pressure to prevent the release of toxic aerosols and vapors during reconstitution. With CST, hazardous drugs are contained throughout the entire process of drug transfer, preparation, transport, administration and disposal.
Discussions at the ASHP Meeting are likely to include the risks of environmental and personnel contamination, in that the meeting closely follows the March release by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of an alert entitled, "Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings." This Alert reviews the recent studies that have demonstrated widespread environmental contamination by hazardous drugs in pharmacy preparation and nursing administration areas, as well as the human uptake studies and their results. Among the Alert's recommendations is the use of a closed-system drug transfer device to reduce the potential for worker exposure.
About Baxa Corporation
As a leading provider of devices and systems for the preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of liquid medications, Baxa manufactures and markets a wide range of healthcare products for use in hospitals, critical care units and alternate-site pharmacies. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, Baxa has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada, the United Kingdom; Denmark, and Germany; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at www.baxa.com.
Click the following link to view a presentation by Jim Jorgenson "Using a Closed System Device to Reduce Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Drugs." Jorgenson is Director of Pharmacy for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Associate Dean for Professional Affairs at the University of Utah:
http://www.isips.org/presentations/PhaSeal/player.html
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Contacts:
Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing
Baxa Corporation: 800.567.2292 ext. 2157 or 303.617.2157
Email: marian.robinson@baxa.com
Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR, Absolutely Public Relations
303.984.9801 or 303.669.3558
Email: maggie@absolutelypr.com
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