The U-M Health Hazardous Drug Oversight Committee is reclassifying hazardous drugs and rolling out United States Pharmacopeia Hazardous Drug Handling standards on Feb. 28, according to a Dec. 1 article on the Michigan Medicine website.
USP reclassifies drugs based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health hazardous drug list. The revised policies and procedures will apply to all staff with exposure to hazardous drugs.
"Currently, about 2 percent of the drugs administered at U-M Health fall within the hazardous drug category," Jamie Tharp, PharmD, said in the article. "The reclassification of drugs based on NIOSH standards will increase that number to roughly 3 percent."
Prior to the launch, staff who work with patients or in patient care areas will be required to complete a 30-minute online training module, starting Dec. 6. Two additional e-learning requirements will also be available for employees who prepare or administer hazardous drugs.