Questions and Answers on USP 797: Answers Provided by Eric S. Kastango, MBA, RPh, FASHP:

• E12 Question: What are the current Joint Commission requirements for implementation?  Are the requirements approved by the State of Texas Board of Pharmacy?
   

• E12 Answer:  The Joint Commission published a clarification on their expectations related to USP Chapter <797> in the April 2006, Joint Commission Perspectives, Vol 26, Issue 4.  It would be best to source this document directly from the Joint Commission.  I'm not sure if I understand your question regarding "Are the requirements approved by the State of Texas Board of Pharmacy".  Whose requirements are you referencing?  The Joint Commission's requirements for compliance or USP Chapter <797>.  The Texas Board of Pharmacy has proposed language changes to 22 TAC §291.26 Pharmacies Compounding Sterile Preparations. I would strongly advise that you visit the Texas Board of Pharmacy website and get a copy of the proposed language.

(Answer provided as a courtesy to usp797.org by Eric S. Kastango, MBA, RPh, FASHP. Please note that usp797.org is not responsible for this answer.)

• About Eric S. Kastango: Since its inception, Eric S. Kastango has been at the forefront of USP <797>. He is an elected member of the United States Pharmacopoeia Sterile Compounding Committee (2005-2010). Over the years, he has held multiple American Society of Health-System Pharmacists chairmanships and committee positions. He was responsible for creating the “Comprehensive Sterile Compounding Compliance Gap Analysis and Risk Assessment Tool.” In this capacity, Mr. Kastango frequents pharmacy events as an expert speaker, contributes to industry journals, and teaches. Mr. Kastango received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences and a MBA from the University of Phoenix. Since 1980, he has practiced pharmacy in a number of practice settings (including hospitals, community, and home care) in a number of different of roles, including the Corporate Vice President of Pharmacy Services for Coram Healthcare Corporation, which has 72 pharmacies in 44 states. He has also managed a FDA-registered cGMP manufacturing operation for Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and has made over 100 presentations on a variety of pharmacy practice topics.  Mr. Kastango is the President and CEO of Clinical IQ, and can be reached as follows:

Mr. Eric S. Kastango – President and CEO
Clinical IQ, LLC 
184 Columbia Turnpike, #282 
Florham Park, NJ  07932 
Tel: (973) 765-9393 --- www.clinicaliq.com