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Mark Wiencek, PhD, Contec, Inc.; Michael Bedenbaugh, PharmD, MBA, MS, Intramed Plus, Inc.; Lauren Pernot, BS, Contec, Inc.; Kate Douglass, MS, RN; Cognitive Design Associates

It is best practice to wipe down surfaces of supplies such as intravenous (IV) bags and vials packaged in cardboard boxes with a disinfectant before bringing the supplies into classified areas of a clean room. Effective decontamination of hazardous drug residues on containers such as IV bags may reduce the risk of occupational exposure. It is critical to understand the risk of penetration of any potential disinfecting or decontaminating agent into the IV bags.

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Cheyenne Johnson, PharmD, Option Care Health; Daniel Decker, PharmD, MBA, BCACP, Option Care Health; Maria Giannakos, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, BCSCP, Option Care Health

Patients treated with intravenous (IV) vancomycin in the hospital often require outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) after discharge for the continuation of therapy. Despite vigilant monitoring, nephrotoxicity is a common adverse drug event associated with vancomycin in the home infusion setting.

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Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Jennifer Charron, RN, MSN, MBA, NHIA

Patients in the 65+ age group and those receiving outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) in the home setting are increasing. There is a void in research that investigates OPAT satisfaction and outcomes in the 65+ age group. To better serve the home infusion needs of this population, an investigation of the patient’s OPAT success rate and understanding of home infusion instructions is needed. The purpose of this study is to determine if differences exist between OPAT patients aged 18-64 and 65+ in their understanding of home infusion instructions and their therapy success rate.

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Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant; Ryan Garst, PharmD, MBA, IgCP, BCSCP, NHIA; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Jennifer Charron, RN, MSN, MBA, NHIA

Pharmacist professional services are paramount to the success of the home infusion process. Using home infusion pharmacist time utilization data collected in this study, the amount of time the home infusion pharmacist spends managing and caring for the patient was determined. The categories of professional services the pharmacist provides and the time and task differences between therapy types and methods of administration was also determined.

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Steven Ward, WellSky; Bill Noyes, NHIA; Connie Sullivan, BSPharm, NHIA; Danell Haines, PhD, Research Consultant

Approximately 15% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. It is recognized that rural Americans have fewer health care opportunities when compared to metropolitan residents. This study aimed to determine the annual percentage of home infusion patients living and receiving home infusion services in rural areas.

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Mary Beth Letourneau, PharmD, New England Life Care; Erica Sievert, PharmD, New England Life Care; Amy MacInnis, PharmD, New England Life Care

Patients who administer chronic parenteral diphenhydramine are at risk of developing behavioral issues that may represent misuse or abuse. The purpose of this study was to assess potential risk factors and comorbidities for medication noncompliance in the home infusion patient population prescribed parenteral diphenhydramine.