The Power of Observability: Controlled Substance Waste Verification in the OR
In the high-stakes environment of the operating room (OR), managing controlled substance waste is crucial. Traditional medication testing methods often fall short in providing the necessary oversight and security. This is where observability comes into play, transforming how we handle and verify controlled substance waste. At PharmID, we are pioneering this shift with our innovative solution, WasteWitness.
Why Current Processes Are Inadequate
Most health systems today lack the capability to verify the specific drug or concentration of medication waste in-house. This significant gap leaves them vulnerable to drug diversion. Current practices, such as using cameras and documentation, offer only partial solutions. Liquids and injectables are particularly susceptible to tampering, and these methods often fail to detect dilution or substitution.
On-site refractometers are sometimes used for one-off tests or random audits. However, these labor-intensive processes require medication to be returned to the testing device, introducing new workflows. With health systems potentially handling over 10,000 waste events per month, relying on such methods to catch every instance of diversion is impractical and insufficient. This highly reactive approach means that diversion can go undetected for months or even years.
From Testing to Observability
At PharmID, we envision a future where testing evolves into observability, becoming an integral part of the waste workflow without adding time or effort. But what exactly is the difference between these two concepts?
Testing provides a snapshot of information, often requiring manual intervention and additional labor to test returned medications. It’s a reactive process that offers limited visibility and does not integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows.
Observability, on the other hand, involves continuous, real-time monitoring and data collection. This approach allows PharmID to understand not just what is happening, but why it is happening. It provides a holistic view of the entire medication management process, identifying patterns and potential issues proactively.
Observability must be embedded in the workflow, not treated as an exception. It needs to be seamlessly integrated into the daily routines of healthcare providers to be effective. This ensures that controlled substance waste verification becomes a natural part of the medication management process, rather than an additional task.
While security is critical, observability also offers broader benefits beyond preventing diversion. Real-time data on medication use and waste can help hospitals identify areas of excessive waste and implement targeted interventions, leading to significant cost savings. Studies have shown that medication waste reduction programs can save hospitals upwards of 10% on medication spending. Improved waste tracking also ensures proper disposal, minimizing environmental impact.
WasteWitness: Revolutionizing Waste Verification
PharmID's WasteWitness embodies the potential of observability in controlled substance waste verification. Our solution is evolving to integrate directly into OR workflows, providing continuous tracking and real-time monitoring of controlled substance medication waste.
Here’s how WasteWitness is setting a new standard:
Real-Time Verification: WasteWitness verifies the drug and concentration of each waste event as it happens, ensuring that any discrepancies are immediately identified and addressed.
Workflow Integration: By embedding within existing clinical workflows, WasteWitness eliminates the need for separate, labor-intensive testing processes. This seamless integration reduces the burden on healthcare providers and enhances compliance—no need to send samples back to the pharmacy for testing.
Seamless Data Integration: WasteWitness is evolving to leverage real-time data from ADCs, EHRs, and AD systems, aiming to ensure waste events are accurately verified with pre-populated information for faster, more reliable workflows.
Comprehensive Monitoring: WasteWitness offers a complete picture of a medication’s chain of custody—from initial administration to final disposal. This comprehensive monitoring helps identify patterns of diversion and highlights areas for process improvement.
Although not every feature is fully realized today, WasteWitness is evolving rapidly to support these capabilities in the near future.
Addressing Vulnerabilities
The absence of continuous tracking and monitoring creates significant vulnerabilities in current medication waste management systems. Many waste disposal practices still rely on an honor system without robust verification, increasing the risk of diversion.
By implementing observability through solutions like WasteWitness, health systems can close these gaps and significantly enhance the effectiveness of their medication management processes.
A New Era of Waste Management in the OR
The transition from conventional testing to observability is essential for improving controlled substance waste verification in the OR. WasteWitness exemplifies this shift by offering real-time, integrated, and comprehensive monitoring that enhances security, compliance, and efficiency.
As health systems face increasing pressure to improve safety and accountability, embracing observability in medication waste management is no longer optional—it’s imperative. WasteWitness is at the forefront of this transformation, poised to deliver the next level of oversight and security in the OR.
This shift from limited visibility to comprehensive observability marks a new era in controlled substance waste management, ensuring safer, more efficient healthcare environments.
For more information on how WasteWitness can revolutionize your controlled substance waste verification process, and to see real-world examples of its impact, visit PharmID.com. Join us in leading the charge toward a safer, more efficient healthcare environment.