Safe Medication Management at Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Safe medication management is an important aspect of preventing patient harm. Medication management in the ambulatory setting can be complicated because of state and federal regulations and requirements imposed by accrediting organizations. Ambulatory surgery center leaders should review their medication management programs internally to assess their comprehensiveness in terms of efficiency, meeting regulatory requirements, and keeping patients safe. Partnering with a pharmacist or pharmacy consultant can be a useful way to address challenges with proper medication management. Perioperative medication use and administration, postoperative pain management, medication disposal, staff member and physician education, proper documentation in the medical record by all disciplines, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacy compounding needs, and controlled medication management and oversight are all important components of this segment of care. Ensuring that medication management programs at ambulatory surgery centers meet all regulatory and patient safety requirements is essential.