UAB PHARMACY SERVICES Patient Safety Information
STORAGE OF MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES
• Store all supplies away from children and pets.
• Do not store supplies on the floor.
• Check the label on all medications and solutions for proper storage instructions.
• Be sure to store all medications as directed on the label and packaging. If your medication has been stored improperly for any length of time, call us for further instructions.
• Refrigerated medicine should be placed in the refrigerator as soon as possible after it arrives. – Place the new medicine behind previously delivered medicine, if applicable.
• If your medicine needs to be refrigerated, please clear and clean a dedicated area in your refrigerator to store your medication. Please keep your refrigerated medication away from food and spills during storage.
• Non-refrigerated items should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and above freezing temperatures.
• During extreme winter weather, your delivery may contain room temperature ice packs( not frozen) to prevent your medication from freezing.
DRUG RECALLS
• UAB Home Infusion Therapy follows the drug recall guidelines created by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration( FDA), drug manufacturers, drug distributors, and state and federal government regulatory agencies.
• If your medication is recalled, the pharmacist will contact you with further instructions, as directed by the FDA or drug manufacturer.
ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS
• If you are experiencing adverse effects to your medication, please contact your doctor or the UAB Home Infusion Therapy pharmacy as soon as possible.
• For all medical emergencies, please call 911.
• Clinicians with proper CPR training may perform resuscitation if there is a medical emergency in the home.
• Non-clinical staff will respond to medical emergencies in the home by contacting 911 services.
DISPOSAL OF MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES Sharps Safety
• Discard all used needles and syringes with needles in the provided RED sharps container. If the needles have a safety device, they can be double-bagged and safely placed in regular household trash.
• If you are on chemotherapy medication, dispose of all gloves, gowns, and used medication containers in the provided YELLOW sharps container.
• Once your sharps container is 3 / 4 full, place it in the original postage-paid box and take it to your local post office. The box will be shipped to the proper disposal site.
• Discard all unused or expired drugs, used medication bags / cassettes, syringes without needles, tubing, soiled dressings, bandages, and gloves that were not used for chemotherapy in double-bagged regular household trash.
Needle Stick Safety
• After using needles, never bend, clip, or replace the cap.
• Never flush sharps down the toilet.
• Put used needles in a RED sharps container immediately after use.
• Keep needles and sharps containers away from pets and children.
• In the case of a needle stick, report the injury to your physician promptly. uabmedicine. org / uab-home-infusion-therapy 9