On Friday, March 26th, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) posted its long awaited hazardous drug alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings. The announcement notes that this is a “prepublication copy” and will be formatted before printing. A workshop on the Alert will be conducted by NIOSH for healthcare professionals, primarily pharmacy and nursing personnel, health and safety personnel, home healthcare managers, housekeeping personnel, and hospital administration on October 3 to 5, 2004. Details will be forthcoming.

Due to the urgent nature of the information contained in the Alert, PharmEcology® Associates, LLC has developed seminar materials that are available for a webcast, teleconference, or WebEx meeting for group purchasing organizations, associations, and healthcare systems. Charlotte Smith, president of PharmEcology® Associates and seminar presenter, served on the NIOSH Hazardous Drug Handling Working Group for the past two years. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please call PharmEcology® Associates at 262-814-2635 or email us at info@pharmecology.com

The full text of the Alert can be accessed on the NIOSH website at Preventing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings.