New lab in Burton enhances pharmacy education, professional development
Janel Shoun-Smith |
$500,000 sterile lab will teach future pharmacists to avoid mistakes of the past
In spring semester 2015, Lipscomb student pharmacists were able to work for the first time in an on-campus sterile environment, thanks to the new Sterile Compounding Laboratory, a $500,000 state-of-the-art facility. The laboratory will provide a sterile environment for student pharmacists to simulate the preparation of sterile drugs.
The College of Pharmacy has included the principles and techniques of sterile compounding in its curriculum for some time, but the new laboratory allows students to practice these skills while working in a sterile environment. There is also ample space in multiple viewing areas for students, faculty and guests to observe activities occurring within the controlled areas. The 1,000-square-feet dedicated to the lab allows faculty to provide hands-on training for up to 14 students at a time within the sterile environment.
Nashvillians know better than most about the importance of sterile product preparation, as a large number of the 64 victims of the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak, caused by contaminated drugs from a laboratory in New England, were discovered in Nashville and Tennessee. Following this national tragedy, boards of pharmacy nationwide are paying close attention to sterile compounding procedures, making it important for student pharmacists to be competent in these skills before heading into the job market, said Dr. Roger Davis, dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.
“In order to assure that our graduates are practice-ready upon graduation, the college committed to developing a teaching laboratory that provides the highest quality teaching environment possible, utilizing the most sophisticated equipment available and directed by qualified faculty,” said Davis. “The new Sterile Products Preparation Laboratory promotes adherence to the highest standards of our profession.”
Dr. Jimmy Torr, assistant professor of pharmacy practice, led the design and construction of the laboratory and will present both core curricular and new elective courses in this area of practice development.
The new sterile compounding lab is equipped with six new, six-foot Horizontal Laminar Airflow Workbenches and a Class II, Type A2 Biological Safety Cabinet, said Torr. One HLFW is equipped with a motorized lift that allows for easy height adjustment to accommodate the needs of students who need special accommodations within the work area. The BSC provides students the opportunity to prepare simulated hazardous sterile preparations, such as chemotherapy drugs, while utilizing industry leading equipment.
State-of-the-art audio/video technology was incorporated into the facility design to allow for the observation and capture of aseptic practices such as gowning and garbing, cleaning and disinfecting and the compounding of sterile preparations, said Torr. The videos may be used to provide students feedback on their aseptic techniques and further enhance learning. The new technology also allows for live streaming of the audio and video feed to alternate locations on campus for education and demonstration purposes.
The facility was designed to meet, or exceed, sterile compounding guidelines set forth by the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy and the United States Pharmacopeia Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations.
Student pharmacists will pass core competencies set forth by the state board of pharmacy and USP <797> such as didactic training, visual observation of aseptic practices and media-fill challenge and gloved-fingertip assessments.
“This sterile laboratory teaching environment will allow for expanded lifelong learning opportunities for pharmacists who are in practice but make career moves requiring new skills in this area of practice. The college will design special continuing education offerings as well as training modules for this purpose working with regulatory authorities that identify the need for additional skill development at certain practice sites,” Davis said.
“I can’t think of a better way to simulate the real-life practice applications of compounding sterile preparations than integrating the students into a lab that meets the requirements of USP <797>,” said Torr. “Learning in this facility will enhance student comprehension of sterile compounding processes and guidelines and allow for increased assessment opportunities. Ultimately the skills learned in the new facility will enable our student pharmacists to be practice-ready for this aspect of patient care and enhance patient safety.”