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Confucius said, "A man who does not plan long ahead will find trouble at his door." The philosopher's view is undoubtedly ominous yet applicable to many situations,including oversight of the compounding pharmacy industry.
New industry guidelines and state and federal regulations are coming into view on the horizon. It takes long-range planning to prepare for them and to position a business so that it won't miss a beat when they finally arrive.
Case in point:
USP Chapter 800, the new practice and quality standards for the handling of hazardous drugs in pharmacies and other healthcare settings which will be fully implemented in July 2018. That date may seem distant, but another, similar object is closer in view.
We have become aware that the state of California's Board of Pharmacy expects to start enforcing its own requirements for hazardous drug compounding in January 2017. That is much sooner than USP's guidelines especially when considering that many pharmacies will have to make physical alterations to their facilities and other investments in order to comply.
The Gates Healthcare team has the expertise to help get a handle on hazardous drug handling rules and other major compliance trends coming our way. Planning ahead, long before trouble is at the door, is the key.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Ernest P. Gates Jr., RPh, FASCP, FIACP, FACA
President,
Gates Healthcare Associates
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