Consensus to identify the dangerous drugs risks in hospital pharmacy services

To identify the hazards and define the theoretical  occupational risks arising from the process of handling hazard drugs in  hospital pharmacy services on the basis of expert consensus.

An expert consensus was conducted (nominal group and documentary techniques) using a mixed method of two face-to-face rounds (meeting of participants and approval of proposals) and  three masked rounds (individualized review). The analysis was applied  to the field of hospital pharmacy. The stages of the process were  designed using the standardized graphical Business Process Model and Notation.

A specific flowchart was obtained for the management and  traceability of hazardous drugs. All general process phases were  characterized. A management chart included operations addressing the  reception and storage, compounding, conservation, and dispensation of  hazardous drugs in hospital pharmacy services. This chart provides a  description of the chemical hazards and exposure routes.

The hazardous drug process should be integrated in a standard management system to improve the safety of patients and  healthcare professionals. Efficiency can maximized and procedural  incidents minimized, thereby ensuring the quality and the safety of  hazardous drugs handling in hospital pharmacy services. Once hazards  are identified, risk assessment should be implemented using a  systematic and preventative methodology to minimize the risk and  severity of any adverse event.