THE PHARMACY DEPARTMENT AT THE 84-BED ARKANSAS HEART HOSPITAL compounds medications ranging from single-ingredient IVs to cardioplegia solutions. We recently built a new compounding complex, and in the near future, we expect to begin compounding our own TPN as well.  Amongst the reasons for building
our new compounding complex was the fact that we knew we were not totally compliant with USP Chapter <797>. Not only was our previous compounding space not compliant, but we were also concerned that our personnel procedures may not fully comply with <797>. We saw the development of our new cleanroom as a chance to address all of those issues.  Of course, installing a cleanroom by itself does not bring compliance, and we had struggled to identify a user-friendly, easy-to-read <797> training resource. We became aware of CriticalPoint’s sterile compounding curriculum in January 2007, and by February, were one of the first facilities to use this comprehensive set of online <797> training modules, which include lessons in the following areas:

•Fundamentals of Aseptic Compounding
•Environmental Monitoring and Maintenance
•Documentation & Policy and Procedures
•Personnel Training
•Compounding Practices
•Engineering Controls and Equipment Use
•Hazardous Drug Compounding Practices

We were happy to find CriticalPoint because we could count on the comprehensive, yet easy-to-read modules for staff education, as well as guidance in establishing our own policies and procedures. A selling point for us is that CriticalPoint continuously updates its Web-based courses to reflect revisions to the chapter, thereby avoiding the instant obsolescence of printed training manuals upon USP updates.

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