Module 11: Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs
Course Description
This module provides a comprehensive overview of regulations and evidence-based practices regarding safe handling of hazardous drugs in healthcare settings.
The evolution and enforcement regulatory guidelines for hazardous handling, the role of NIOSH in hazardous drug designation, and the development of facility-specific hazardous drug lists and Assessment of Risk will be explored. A review of best practices for receiving, storing, transporting, compounding, administering, and disposing of hazardous drugs, with emphasis on engineering controls, personal protective equipment, environmental monitoring, spill management, and staff training will be covered as well. The goal is to provide healthcare professionals with practical strategies to reduce incidence of occupational exposure to hazardous drugs and satisfy regulatory requirements regarding documentation and handling practices.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss regulatory guidance regarding facility hazardous drug (HD) lists and Assessments of Risk (AOR)
- Describe best practices for the receipt, storage, transportation, and manipulation of HDs
- Identify facility/engineering requirements to prepare sterile and non-sterile hazardous drugs
- Choose protective equipment, cleaning and containment strategies to be used in compounding HD preparations and managing spills
This module includes an ACPE Pre- and Post-Test, an eLearning course, and a course evaluation. You must complete all of these module activities, in order, before claiming ACPE credits.
Presenters
Amy Billimoria, PharmD, MSF, BCSCP, is the Associate Director of Oncology Pharmacy Operations at University of Kentucky HealthCare Markey Cancer Center. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Science in Finance degrees from the University of Kentucky. Throughout her 11 years of leadership and management experience, she has led numerous operational and clinical initiatives focused on the growth and oversight of oncology specialty infusion services and enhanced patient safety. She has spearheaded systemwide improvements in sterile compounding compliance and served as a key liaison for multidisciplinary clinical teams. Her areas of interest include sterile and hazardous compounding compliance, pharmacy technician education and development, and gene therapy.
Kathryn (Katie) Plahn, BA, CPhT, CSPT, is a Pharmacy Compliance Coordinator and USP <800> Designated Person for the University of Kentucky Healthcare, Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, KY. She oversees all aspects of hazardous handling for the enterprise, including 4 negative pressure, hazardous sterile compounding locations. She has been working in pharmacy services since 2001, involved in sterile compounding since 2004, and involved in hazardous sterile compounding since 2008. She originally received her CPhT designation in 2007, her CSPT designation in 2018, and her CPhT-Adv designation in 2025. She transitioned from operations to an administrative role in 2020. Her particular areas of interest are sterile compounding, oncology and cleanroom planning and design.
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Knowledge/Application Course for Pharmacists
HOPA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.
To claim ACPE Credits the learner must complete all required activities, including the pre- and post-tests, and course evaluation. CE's will be reported within 1-2 weeks of completion of the credit claim activity.
Technology requirements: HOPA Learn requires a modern web browser (Internet Explorer 7+, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Google Chrome) and the ability to listen to audio with the content.