New Antibiotic Beeper Service
BWH is working to improve utilization of certain antibiotics. This is important
for patient outcomes, controlling the appearance and spread of resistant organisms,
and expense control. In an effort to improve the advice provided when a restricted
antibiotic is requested for inpatient use, we are providing and requiring the
use of an antibiotic approval service. A new beeper, ABXAP (22927) is staffed
by a senior Infectious Disease fellow in Infectious Disease, who will provide
expert advice on the appropriate use of restricted antibiotics or to provide recommendations
for alternative antibiotics. All requests for approval of restricted antibiotics
should be directed to the ABXAP beeper between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a
week. From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., formal approval is not required, but the ordering
physician must contact the ABXAP staff member before noon the following day to
obtain approval if ongoing use of the restricted agent is desired. BICS will prompt
the ordering physician to do so. This is the first in a series of imp-rovements
in the antibiotic program at BWH. For more information, contact Raphael J. Landovitz,
MD in the Division of Infectious Disease (ext. 5-6632) or Colleen Lowry, PharmD,
in the Pharmacy Department (beeper 39507).