title: Improved pharmacy department workflow with new method of order entry for single-agent, high-dose methotrexate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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. Order entry of methotrexate and ancillary medications was examined to determine whether the old or new method was used and whether it was performed by a chemotherapy pharmacist. The fundamental difference between the old and new methods for order entry is use of the "unscheduled" frequency of medication administration to replace the administration frequency of "once" with a specified date and time. Timing of antiemetic premedication and leucovorin rescue relative to methotrexate administration were tallied for the new method. Chi-square analysis was performed for the primary objective. Observational statistics were performed otherwise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of evaluable encounters identified was 158. A chemotherapy pharmacist entered a greater proportion of orders when the new method was utilized (P < .0001). The proportion of orders entered by a chemotherapy pharmacist increased during the hours of 0700 and 2259 with the new method. Appropriate coordination of antiemetic and leucovorin administration was documented for 96% and 100% of cases with the new method of order entry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of orders for single-agent, high-dose methotrexate entered by a chemotherapy pharmacist was significantly greater with the use of the new method. Administration of antiemetic premedication and leucovorin rescue were appropriately coordinated with the use of the new method for order entry of single-agent, high-dose methotrexate.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Polly E
authors: PE
authors: Kintzel
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Thomas H
authors: TH
authors: VanDyke
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: Athmann
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Coram Healthcare , Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
authors: Lisa B
authors: LB
authors: Mills
authors: Dell Services , Caledonia, Michigan.
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Bonter
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Trihealth , Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors: Matthew W
authors: MW
authors: Bremer
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Mary L
authors: ML
authors: Dougherty
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Ryan W
authors: RW
authors: Foster
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Sandra K
authors: SK
authors: Knight
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Spectrum Health Hospitals , Grand Rapids, Michigan.
authors: Martha G
authors: MG
authors: Slot
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Swedish Health Services , Seattle, Washington .
authors: Laura L
authors: LL
authors: Steinmetz-Malato
keywords: antineoplastic agents; hospital; intravenous administration; medication systems; methotrexate; patient safety; workflow