Impact of Opioid Restrictions During a Critical Drug Shortage Period: Interrupted Time Series for Institutional Opioid Utilization.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intravenous opioid product restrictions at an academic medical institution in an urban setting during the time of critical opioid shortages. We assessed the effect of ordering restrictions on inpatient opioid utilization measured by 1) changes in intermittent oral and injectable opioid product administration; 2) changes in total institutional opioid administration; and 3) changes in the utilization of individual restricted opioid agents. METHODS: This study is a single-center retrospective analysis by interrupted time series of institutional opioid utilization from 07/2017 to 06/2018. Utilization was quantified using milligrams of intravenous morphine equivalent administered or dispensed per admitted patient. Restrictions were grouped into 10 distinct phases, which informed the interruptions in linear regression models. RESULTS: Sequential restrictions during the study period led to shifts in use of individual agents but did not have a significant impact on overall total opioid utilization. "Soft" restrictions did not have a direct, statistically significant impact on medication use but did decrease utilization over time. In situations where a product was restricted with a "soft stop" followed by a "hard stop," the "hard stop" directly reduced usage. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted ordering restrictions allowed the institution to redirect drug use according to clinical need without affecting the overall utilization. Clinical decision support led providers to choose therapeutically equivalent alternatives. The demonstrated effect of restrictions will guide institutions in the selection of "hard stop" or "soft stop" restrictions in response to future shortages.

Implementation of a pharmacy technician career ladder and pharmacy technician training program.

PURPOSE: To describe the implementation of a pharmacy technician career ladder and internal technician training program at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL. SUMMARY: As the systems for providing care and receiving reimbursement become more complex, the ability to deliver comprehensive care in the most efficient and effective manner is critical. In order to maximize impact, pharmacists must practice at the top of their license. Recruitment and retention practices that support an optimized pharmacy technician workforce and continued expansion of technician roles are vital to advancement of pharmacy practice. This report describes the efforts to improve technician recruitment, professional development, and retention through the implementation of a technician career ladder and internal training program. The programs contributed to a reduction in technician rolling 12-month turnover rates from 26.72% in July 2015 to 13.1% in March 2023 (a reduction of 51%). Overtime hours as a percentage of total hours worked were reduced from 11.02% in July 2015 to 4.54% in March 2023 (a reduction of 59%). Improvements were noted in pharmacy technician job satisfaction, as evidenced by key employee engagement indicators including responses to the posed statement "Overall, I am a satisfied employee," with a mean score of 3.32 (on a scale of 1-5) in 2015 as compared to 4.2 in 2019 (a 21% increase). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a pharmacy technician career ladder and technician training program creates a sustainable and effective recruitment and retention pathway that may favorably impact technician job satisfaction, turnover, and career development opportunities.

When Oxybutynin Becomes a Decoy for Oxycodone: A Case Report of Diversion Through Substitution.

This case report describes the novel use of oxybutynin and acetaminophen as a substitution for oxycodone for the express purpose of diverting oxycodone in a hospital-based post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). The report outlines how the physical properties and pharmacologic effects of non-controlled medications in the PACU, like oxybutynin, can be visually mistaken and even mimic the side effects of controlled substances like oxycodone. Substituting oxybutynin for controlled substances can circumvent diversion surveillance software. The authors describe how the diversion was identified and the process improvements that should be implemented for proactive identification moving forward.