Proposal

Managing the wastage of Fentanyl during the national shortage

Introduction: Fentanyl is a popular drug of choice for post-operative care, being used for its
excellent analgesic properties. With a strength of 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, its
immediate onset is used to target extreme pain while also controlling it. This drug has recently
been placed on a critical national shortage, meaning all IV Fentanyl will need to be closely
monitored to eliminate unnecessary waste. As Inpatient Pharmacy Techs it’s our responsibility
to manage the stock being held on the floors. Knowing when to move medications to areas
where the demand is higher than others. Keeping track of this it will greatly help the patients,
allowing them access to this important medication. Helping Pharmacy reduce the amount of
PCA’s compounded and wasted, allowing a consistent stock at all times.

Description of Proposal: I propose that when the tech gets to their floors, communication
between the Pharmacist and technician is important. To determine the number of patients and
the rate they will be administered for that shift. By calculating for a 12-hour shift, we can
establish a set amount needed on the floors. Reports can also be run to determine the amount
needed for the shift. By having this data, the techs can decide that minimum amount needed to
last that shift. While also involving the Narcotic tech, being able to know the amount needed to
be compounded for the day. By lowering the number of drugs expiring on the floor the supply
of non-compounded vials the pharmacy will only increase. While the buyer is able to locate
medication to be bought and restocked.
Schedule:
• Run report/ talk to pharmacist
• Figure amount of PCA’s needed to be compounded
• Divide among needed floors
• Run reports throughout shift to see if more are needed
• When stocking Acudoses run a expire/audit and check the dating

Cost: Training the techs should take at most an hour. ($16.60) Running and printing of report is
$0.07 per sheet of paper with it being 4-5 sheets. The cost saving will come from prohibiting the
wastage of PCA’s, but instead being administered to the patient.

Conclusion: By setting this standard for Fentanyl, it could be utilized for other shortages that
are bound to happen in the future. To reduce the pharmacy’s loss of product and to benefit our
patients. By having this medication, they will not go without.

Please address any concerns and questions to me. My information will be included if further
contact is required. Thanks for your time and consideration.

Ashley Crump
ashleyanncrump@gmail.com or acrump8@bruinmail.slcc.edu
(801) 803-0735