Advancing Anesthesia Safety: The Impact of Ready-To-Administer Injectable Solutions in the OR
December 12, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Lunch Symposium at PGA79
New York Marriott Marquis, NYC, Majestic Complex, 6th Floor
Using examples of events that have been reported to the ISMP National Medication Errors Reporting Program (ISMP MERP), data from intraoperative opioid waste and association of dose with post operative adverse outcome studies, and real-world safety examples, faculty will describe the key vulnerabilities when IV medications require manipulation at the bedside that have led to errors and patient harm. The speakers will review error and near miss/close call reports, data from studies that compare the cost and safety of manufacturer-prepared prefilled ready-to-administer (RTA) products compared to traditional vial-and-syringe products and discuss the difference between 503B outsourcing facility produced and commercially available RTA products.
Intended Audience
- Physicians
- Medication Safety and Patient Safety Officers
- Risk Management and Quality Managers
- Medication Safety Committees
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technicians
Learning Objectives
- Describe the risks associated with preparation and administration of IV medications that are manipulated in perioperative and procedural care settings.
- Compare the safety profiles of manufacturer-prepared ready-to-administer (RTA) products, traditional vial-and-syringe preparations, and products prepared by 503B outsourcing facilities.
- Analyze studies evaluating the cost and safety of manufacturer-prepared RTA products versus traditional vial-and-syringe products with attention to evidence evaluating the impact of RTA use on patient outcomes in anesthesia practice.
Speakers
Christina Michalek, BS, RPh, FASHP
Director, Membership & PSO, ISMP
Christina Michalek, BS, RPh, FASHP is the Director of Membership and Patient Safety Organization (PSO) at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and Administrative Coordinator for the Medication Safety Officers Society. In this role, Christina leads collaborative efforts with health-system leaders and clinical teams to advance medication safety initiatives. She participates in consultation, publication, and advocacy efforts. She is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences, where she shares best practices and promotes a culture of safety across healthcare settings. With over two decades of experience in acute care pharmacy, Christina has held progressive clinical and leadership roles, supporting diverse patient populations and guiding departmental operations.
Elizabeth Rebello, MD, FASA, FACHE, CPPS, CMQ
Professor & Executive Director, Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Cancer Network, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine MD Anderson, Houston TX
A pharmacist by training, Elizabeth has been involved in quality and patient safety efforts for over fifteen years. She serves as a past Chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) Committee on Professional Diversity and past Chair of the ASA Quality, Management and Departmental Administration Committee and led the Medication Safety Workgroup to standardize drug concentrations. She is the immediate past Chair of the ASA 2025 Annual Meeting Oversight Committee and currently serves as the President of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists. She serves on the board of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF), chairs the APSF Patient Safety Advisory Group on Medication Safety, and serves as a member of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. She also served on the United States Pharmacopeia Expert Compounding Committee from 2020-2025.
John Hertig, PharmD, MS, CPPS, FASHP, FFIP
President and Founder, Hertig Healthcare Advising, LLC
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Purdue University
Dr. John Hertig is Founder of Hertig Healthcare Advising, LLC and Adjunct Faculty at Purdue University (Indianapolis, USA). Dr. Hertig lectures around the world and publishes on a variety of patient safety, leadership, administration, and health policy topics. He serves as an Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Medicine Access, and his extensive research program is designed to enhance the safety of the medication use process, while using evidence to inform patient advocacy efforts. Dr. Hertig is a Member of the US FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee. His other appointments include the International Pharmaceutical Federation, where he is Treasurer for the Hospital Pharmacy Section, and Past-President of the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies – Global (ASOP).
CE Accreditation: Not offered
Funding Source: This activity is supported by Fresenius Kabi.
This program is not associated with or part of the 79th PostGraduate Assembly in Anesthesiology.
