The document provides tips for reducing drug waste in Florida's pharmacies and hospitals. It recommends that pharmacies only accept drug samples that will be used immediately and have expiration dates over one year away. It also recommends hospitals choose products with less packaging and without preservatives, and get maximum use out of opened chemotherapy vials. Hospitals are also advised to use pre-authorized discharge orders to prevent unused medications from being discarded upon patient discharge.

1. D R U G L O S S I N F L
R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
H O W T O :
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G

2. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Drug Sample Reduction
• M A K E S U R E D R U G R E P S S I G N I N
A N D L I S T W H A T D R U G S T H E Y A D D
T O Y O U R I N V E N T O RY.

3. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Drug Sample Reduction
• M A K E S U R E D R U G R E P S S I G N I N
A N D L I S T W H A T D R U G S T H E Y A D D
T O Y O U R I N V E N T O RY.
• O N LY A C C E P T S A M P L E D R U G S Y O U
T H A T W I L L B E U S E D I M M E D I A T E LY.

4. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Drug Sample Reduction
• M A K E S U R E D R U G R E P S S I G N I N
A N D L I S T W H A T D R U G S T H E Y A D D
T O Y O U R I N V E N T O RY.
• O N LY A C C E P T S A M P L E D R U G S Y O U
T H A T W I L L B E U S E D I M M E D I A T E LY.
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H A N
E X P I R A T I O N D A T E O F L E S S T H A N 1
Y E A R .

5. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Drug Sample Reduction
• M A K E S U R E D R U G R E P S S I G N I N
A N D L I S T W H A T D R U G S T H E Y A D D
T O Y O U R I N V E N T O RY.
• O N LY A C C E P T S A M P L E D R U G S Y O U
T H A T W I L L B E U S E D I M M E D I A T E LY.
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H A N
E X P I R A T I O N D A T E O F L E S S T H A N 1
Y E A R .
• M A K E S U R E D R U G P R O D U C T S G E T
R O TA T E D O N T H E S H E LV E S .

6. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Drug Sample Reduction
• M A K E S U R E D R U G R E P S S I G N I N
A N D L I S T W H A T D R U G S T H E Y A D D
T O Y O U R I N V E N T O RY.
• O N LY A C C E P T S A M P L E D R U G S Y O U
T H A T W I L L B E U S E D I M M E D I A T E LY.
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H A N
E X P I R A T I O N D A T E O F L E S S T H A N 1
Y E A R .
• M A K E S U R E D R U G P R O D U C T S G E T
R O TA T E D O N T H E S H E LV E S .
• M O V E T O A V O U C H E R S Y S T E M T O
C O M P L E T E LY E L I M I N A T E S A M P L E S
I N Y O U R C A R E .

7. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H L E S S
T H A N O N E Y E A R D A T I N G U N L E S S T H A T
I S A L L T H A T I S A VA I L A B L E A N D T H E
D R U G S W I L L D E F I N I T E LY B E U S E D .
K N O W T H E L I F E C Y C L E

8. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H L E S S
T H A N O N E Y E A R D A T I N G U N L E S S T H A T
I S A L L T H A T I S A VA I L A B L E A N D T H E
D R U G S W I L L D E F I N I T E LY B E U S E D .
• C H O O S E P R O D U C T S T H A T H A V E L E S S
PA C K A G I N G , ( PA R T I C U L A R LY P - L I S T E D
D R U G S ) . PA C K A G I N G M U S T B E
H A N D L E D A S H A Z A R D O U S I F I T C O M E S
I N T O C O N TA C T W I T H A P L I S T E D D R U G .
K N O W T H E L I F E C Y C L E

9. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H L E S S
T H A N O N E Y E A R D A T I N G U N L E S S T H A T
I S A L L T H A T I S A VA I L A B L E A N D T H E
D R U G S W I L L D E F I N I T E LY B E U S E D .
• C H O O S E P R O D U C T S T H A T H A V E L E S S
PA C K A G I N G , ( PA R T I C U L A R LY P - L I S T E D
D R U G S ) . PA C K A G I N G M U S T B E
H A N D L E D A S H A Z A R D O U S I F I T C O M E S
I N T O C O N TA C T W I T H A P L I S T E D D R U G .
• C H O O S E P R O D U C T S W I T H O U T
P R E S E R VA T I V E S , E S P E C I A L LY
T H I M E R O S A L O R P H E N Y L M E R C U R I C
A C E TA T E W H I C H M U S T B E H A N D L E D A S
H A Z A R D O U S WA S T E .
K N O W T H E L I F E C Y C L E

10. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• D O N O T A C C E P T D R U G S W I T H L E S S
T H A N O N E Y E A R D A T I N G U N L E S S T H A T
I S A L L T H A T I S A VA I L A B L E A N D T H E
D R U G S W I L L D E F I N I T E LY B E U S E D .
• C H O O S E P R O D U C T S T H A T H A V E L E S S
PA C K A G I N G , ( PA R T I C U L A R LY P - L I S T E D
D R U G S ) . PA C K A G I N G M U S T B E
H A N D L E D A S H A Z A R D O U S I F I T C O M E S
I N T O C O N TA C T W I T H A P L I S T E D D R U G .
• C H O O S E P R O D U C T S W I T H O U T
P R E S E R VA T I V E S , E S P E C I A L LY
T H I M E R O S A L O R P H E N Y L M E R C U R I C
A C E TA T E W H I C H M U S T B E H A N D L E D A S
H A Z A R D O U S WA S T E .
• C H O O S E S I N G L E D O S E C O N TA I N E R S
T H A T D O N ’ T N E E D P R E S E R VA T I V E S .
K N O W T H E L I F E C Y C L E

11. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• G E T T H E M A X I M U M U S E O U T O F
O P E N E D C H E M O T H E R A P Y V I A L S
M A X U S E

12. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• M E D I C A T I O N S M U S T B E R E T U R N E D T O
T H E P H A R M A C Y F O R D E S T R U C T I O N
W H E N T H E PA T I E N T I S D I S C H A R G E D
U N L E S S T H E R E I S A D I S C H A R G E
P R E S C R I P T I O N F R O M T H E D O C T O R A N D
P R O P E R L A B E L I N G F O R T H E
C O N TA I N E R ( S ) . T H I S C A U S E S D E L A Y S I N
T H E D I S C H A R G E P R O C E S S , A N D T H E S E
P R E S C R I P T I O N S A R E O F T E N
A B A N D O N E D B Y T H E PA T I E N T.
L A B E L E D F O R H O M E U S E

13. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• T O P R E V E N T T H I S :
• U S E P R E - A U T H O R I Z E D D I S C H A R G E
O R D E R S F O R M A I N T E N A N C E
M E D I C A T I O N S .
L A B E L E D F O R H O M E U S E

14. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• T O P R E V E N T T H I S :
• U S E P R E - A U T H O R I Z E D D I S C H A R G E
O R D E R S F O R M A I N T E N A N C E
M E D I C A T I O N S .
• P R O D U C E L A B E L S I N T H E U N I T S T O
A V O I D WA I T I N G F O R T H E P H A R M A C Y
T O F I L L P R E S C R I P T I O N S .
L A B E L E D F O R H O M E U S E

15. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• P H A R M A C I E S S H O U L D P R E P A L L
C H E M O T H E R A P Y I V S W I T H S A L I N E
B E F O R E D I S P E N S I N G .
P R I M E A N D F L U S H I V L I N E S

16. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• P H A R M A C I E S S H O U L D P R E P A L L
C H E M O T H E R A P Y I V S W I T H S A L I N E
B E F O R E D I S P E N S I N G .
• E N S U R E T H A T N U R S E S F L U S H T H E
T U B I N G A F T E R A D M I N I S T R A T I O N T O
E N S U R E S T H A T T H E PA T I E N T R E C E I V E S
T H E C O M P L E T E D O S E A N D D E C R E A S E S
T H E C H A N C E O F E M P L O Y E E E X P O S U R E .
P R I M E A N D F L U S H I V L I N E S

17. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• P H A R M A C I E S S H O U L D P R E P A L L
C H E M O T H E R A P Y I V S W I T H S A L I N E
B E F O R E D I S P E N S I N G .
• E N S U R E T H A T N U R S E S F L U S H T H E
T U B I N G A F T E R A D M I N I S T R A T I O N T O
E N S U R E S T H A T T H E PA T I E N T R E C E I V E S
T H E C O M P L E T E D O S E A N D D E C R E A S E S
T H E C H A N C E O F E M P L O Y E E E X P O S U R E .
• F L U S H E D I V L I N E S C A N B E M A N A G E D
A S T R A C E C H E M O T H E R A P Y WA S T E .
P R I M E A N D F L U S H I V L I N E S

18. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• C O N S I D E R T H E S I Z E O F T H E
C O N TA I N E R S I N R E L A T I O N T O H O W
T H E Y A R E U S E D . T H E N :
C O N TA I N E R S I Z E

19. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• C O N S I D E R T H E S I Z E O F T H E
C O N TA I N E R S I N R E L A T I O N T O H O W
T H E Y A R E U S E D . T H E N :
• I M P L E M E N T A S U R V E Y O F D R U G S
T H A T A R E R O U T I N E LY WA S T E D
B E C A U S E T H E P R E PA R E D P R O D U C T
I S T O O L A R G E F O R C O M P L E T E
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N .
C O N TA I N E R S I Z E

20. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• C O N S I D E R T H E S I Z E O F T H E
C O N TA I N E R S I N R E L A T I O N T O H O W
T H E Y A R E U S E D . T H E N :
• I M P L E M E N T A S U R V E Y O F D R U G S
T H A T A R E R O U T I N E LY WA S T E D
B E C A U S E T H E P R E PA R E D P R O D U C T
I S T O O L A R G E F O R C O M P L E T E
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N .
• T RY P U R C H A S I N G D I F F E R E N T
D O S A G E F O R M U L A T I O N S O F T H E S E
D R U G S T O P E R M I T VA R I E D D O S A G E S
T O PA T I E N T S .
C O N TA I N E R S I Z E

21. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• C O N S I D E R T H E S I Z E O F T H E
C O N TA I N E R S I N R E L A T I O N T O H O W
T H E Y A R E U S E D . T H E N :
• I M P L E M E N T A S U R V E Y O F D R U G S
T H A T A R E R O U T I N E LY WA S T E D
B E C A U S E T H E P R E PA R E D P R O D U C T
I S T O O L A R G E F O R C O M P L E T E
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N .
• T RY P U R C H A S I N G D I F F E R E N T
D O S A G E F O R M U L A T I O N S O F T H E S E
D R U G S T O P E R M I T VA R I E D D O S A G E S
T O PA T I E N T S .
• I N F O R M Y O U R G E N E R A L
P U R C H A S I N G O R G A N I Z A T I O N I F T H E
A P P R O P R I A T E LY S I Z E D P R O D U C T I S
U N A VA I L A B L E .
C O N TA I N E R S I Z E

22. H O W T O : R E D U C E F L O R I D A ’ S P H A R M A D R U G WA S T E
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
Hospital Drug Waste Reduction
• C O N S I D E R T H E S I Z E O F T H E
C O N TA I N E R S I N R E L A T I O N T O H O W
T H E Y A R E U S E D
• A . I M P L E M E N T A S U R V E Y O F D R U G S
T H A T A R E R O U T I N E LY WA S T E D B E C A U S E
T H E P R E PA R E D P R O D U C T I S T O O L A R G E
F O R C O M P L E T E A D M I N I S T R A T I O N .
• B . T RY P U R C H A S I N G D I F F E R E N T
D O S A G E F O R M U L A T I O N S O F T H E S E
D R U G S T O P E R M I T VA R I E D D O S A G E S T O
PA T I E N T S .
• C . I N F O R M Y O U R G E N E R A L
P U R C H A S I N G O R G A N I Z A T I O N I F T H E
A P P R O P R I A T E LY S I Z E D P R O D U C T I S
U N A VA I L A B L E .
•
C O N TA I N E R S I Z E

23. S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G
T O L E A R N M O R E , V I S I T:
S H A R O N R O B E R T S , P H A R M A C I S T A N D A T T O R N E Y, S H A R O N R O B E RT S . O R G