October 13, 2025 | 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. CT

A Breakfast Symposium at ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center – Room 221A

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.

Satya Krishna Ramachandran, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School & Program Director, Perioperative Fellowship in Quality and Safety, Department of Anesthesiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Satya Krishna Ramachandran, MBBS, MD, is an internationally recognized leader in healthcare quality and patient safety. After his early years in India, he developed his medical and leadership career at the Oxford Radcliffe hospitals, the University of Michigan, and Brandeis University. Krish is a busy clinician, educator and a widely cited researcher. He is an Assoc. Professor at Harvard Medical School, practices anesthesiology, runs a highly successful quality and safety fellowship program, and drives healthcare change through his leadership roles in Boston. Throughout his career, he has brought together diverse teams across disciplines, organizations, and continents. He is the Founding-Director of the “International Institute for Health Innovation”.

Rukhsar Banu, PharmD, CPPS

Medication Safety Officer, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmacy Services,
University Health San Antonio

Rukhsar Banu is a dedicated pharmacist passionate about Medication Safety. Her journey started in India and continued in the United States, where she honed skills and knowledge in the profession of pharmacy. With 18 years of diverse experience in roles such as pharmacy technician, inventory specialist, intern, and pharmacist, she consistently contributes to projects focused on medication safety. In her current position as a Medication Safety Officer at University Health, she routinely reviews medication errors, support process improvement, establish policies, procedures, and protocols for safe medication use, and works towards implementation of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Best Practices throughout the health system. She firmly believes in the power of simplicity to drive positive outcomes and uses this as a guide to promote excellence and innovation in every project she undertakes.

CE Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Partners for Advancing Clinical Education (PACE) and Institute for Safe Medication Practices. PACE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician Continuing Education
Partners designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Funding Source: This activity is supported by Fresenius Kabi.