Cost avoidance from dose rounding biologic and cytotoxic antineoplastics.

Background To reduce product wastage, our institution allows automatic dose rounding of biologic and cytotoxic anticancer agents. The purpose of this project was to determine the actual annual cost avoidance due to pharmacist-managed automatic dose rounding of anticancer treatments. Methods Financial impact was assessed within the context of our departmental standard work which supports automatic dose rounding of biologic anticancer agents (±10%) and cytotoxic anticancer agents (±5%) to the nearest vial size for body surface area- or weight-based doses.

Improved pharmacy department workflow with new method of order entry for single-agent, high-dose methotrexate.

Purpose: To determine whether a process change impacted the proportion of orders for single-agent, high-dose methotrexate entered by chemotherapy pharmacists instead of general pharmacy staff. Coordination of antiemetic premedication and leucovorin rescue with the new method of order entry was evaluated.

Methods: Adults treated with single-agent, high-dose methotrexate were identified retrospectively.

Cost savings from dose rounding of biologic anticancer agents in adults.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine the cost savings related to a dose-rounding process for adult biologic anticancer agents.

Methods: Biologic anticancer agents prepared by the inpatient pharmacy were identified retrospectively through completed chemotherapy preparation checklists and medication orders on file in the pharmacy or by the clinical pharmacist for adult oncology from the medical records of patients in her practice. The specific products screened for evaluation were aldesleukin, bevacizumab, cetuximab, denileukin diftitox, gemtuzumab, rituximab, and trastuzumab.