Healthcare Inspection: Review of Selected Pharmacy Operations in Veterans Health Administration Facilities

摘要

VA Office of Inspector General, Office of Healthcare Inspections completed an evaluation of select pharmacy processes in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facilities. The purpose of our review was to: (1) evaluate pharmacy controls related to security and management of controlled substances (CS), (2) determine whether medical facilities complied with local and VHA policies regarding pharmacy security and handling of CS, and (3) evaluate whether management controls of deterrence and detection of CS diversion were effective. We evaluated pharmacy internal physical environments, and we assessed whether pharmacies had processes to evaluate polypharmacy. We also determined whether pharmacies adhered to safety and infection control (IC) standards and whether pharmacy clean rooms complied with United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter guidelines for clean room construction. We performed this review at 43 VHA medical facilities during Combined Assessment Program reviews conducted across the country from January 1-December 31, 2008.