Class description
Chemotherapy isn't just in hospitals. Nursing homes, pharmacists, and vets are also exposed. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries adopted the first hazardous drugs rule in the nation on January 3, 2012. This new law is designed to protect healthcare workers, veterinarians, and pharmacists who are exposed to hundreds of hazardous drugs used for cancer chemotherapy, antiviral treatments, and other drug therapies that may cause serious health and safety harm. These drugs are well known for their acute and chronic toxicity in treated patients, but they may also impose risks to workers. This course is designed to discuss practical strategies to prevent occupational exposures to hazardous drugs and to share control strategies among participants. Workshops will give practitioners an opportunity to learn more about the best practices that have been effective in reducing exposures and to interact with other professionals who have successfully implemented controls in their workplaces.
intended audience
Healthcare workers, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physicians, physician assistants, veterinarians, veterinarian assistants/technicians, industrial hygienists, EH&S directors, risk managers, compounding pharmacists, state compliance officers, nursing home home health care staff, housekeeping and environmental services staff, and shipping and receiving personnel.
COURSE objectives
At the completion of this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the evidence of the genotoxicity and reproductive effects of anti-cancer chemotherapy
- Review medical surveillance protocols for workers dispensing hazardous drugs
- Discuss the rationale and process for defining a hazardous drug
- Identify environmental and ventilation controls used to reduce exposure to hazardous drugs
- Summarize control strategies to reduce or prevent occupational exposures
- List best practices across healthcare, pharmacy, and veterinarian sectors
featured speaker
Melissa A. McDiarmid, MD, MPH, DABT is Professor of Medicine and Director of the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Occupational Health Program. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Maryland at Baltimore and her MPH from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health where she also completed fellowship training in Occupational Medicine. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Toxicology.
planning committee
Rachael Crickman, Virginia Mason Medical Center
Pamela Cant, Washington State Labor & Industries
Larry Lee, Pacific Industrial Hygiene
Lisa Parshley, Olympia Veterinary Cancer Center
Jeff Rochon, Washington State Pharmacy Association
Alex Truchot, Group Health/CBRE
Lisa Van Loo, Washington State Labor & Industries
Nancy Simcox, UW DEOHS CE
agenda
| 8:00–8:30 am | Registration (continental breakfast provided) |
| 8:30–8:45 | Welcome - Nancy Simcox, MS, UW DEOHS CE |
| 8:45–9:45 | Overview Health Risks and Medical Surveillance - Melissa CDiarmid, MD, MPH, DABT, University of Maryland |
| 9:45–10:30 | Rationale and Process for Defining Hazardous Drugs—Update on NIOSH Guidance - Tom Connor, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Applied Reseach and Technology |
| 10:30-10:45 | Break |
| 10:45–11:30 | Hazardous Drugs: New Prevention Guide - by Quebec ASSTSAS - Dr. Cynthia Tanguay, MSc, Service Pharmaceutique en Support a la Recherche (SPSR) Unite de Recherche en Pratique Pharmaceutique (URPP), Department de pharmacie, CHU Saint-Justin |
| 11:30-noon | Panel Discussion and Questions |
| 12:00–1:00 | Lunch (provided) |
| 1:00–1:45 | Virginia Mason Case Study: A Rationale for an Algorithm - Laurel Brown, PharmD, Virginia Mason Medical Center |
| 1:45–2:30 | Practice Tools for Application of the Washington State Algorithm - Larry Lee, CIH, Pacific Industrial Hygiene |
| 2:30–2:45 | Break |
| 2:45–4:00 | Afternoon Break Out Sessions A. Implementing Best Practices: What Works to Protect Healthcare Workers? - Martha Polovich, PhD, RN, AOCN, Byrdine F. Lewis School of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University & Rachael Crickman, RN, MN, AOCNS, Virginia Mason Medical Center B. Lessons Learned for Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs for Pharmacy Workers - Annie Lambert, PharmD, Oncology & Ambulatory Infusion Services/MultiCare Health C. Practical Applications and Challenges for Veterinarians - Lisa Parshley, PhD, DVM, Olympia Veterinary Cancer Center |
| 4:00–4:30 | Update on Washington State Hazardous Drug Rule - Pam Cant, MS, Washington State Labor and Industries |
| 4:30–5:00 | Closing and Evaluation - Nancy Simcox, MS, UW DEOHS CE |
To request disability accommodation, contact the Disability Services Office at least 10 days in advance at: 206-543-6450 (voice); 206-543-6452 (TDY); 206-685-7264 (FAX); or dso@u.washington.edu (e-mail)