Traditionally, hospital pharmacy and nuclear medicine departments have had minimal interaction. However, due to the Joint Commission’s inclusion of radiopharmaceuticals as medication in 2004, this has changed. While the expanded definition is not new, institutions have recently begun to focus on radiopharmaceuticals and to adopt processes that help ensure compliance with applicable medication management standards.
This resource center contains tools and references to help facilitate collaboration between the pharmacy and nuclear medicine departments in the safe use of radiopharmaceuticals for improved patient safety:
- One of the first steps in helping to ensure patient safety is to use FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals.
- Using a licensed nuclear pharmacy does not always guarantee that FDA-approved products are dispensed.
- If your nuclear medicine department uses radiopharmaceuticals that originate from sources other than the approved manufacturer(s) they may be administering unapproved copies of commercially available FDA-approved drugs.
- Our list of the currently available FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals can assist you with formulary development to help ensure that your nuclear medicine department knows whether it uses only FDA-approved drugs when available.
- Another critical factor in helping to ensure patient safety is that the nuclear medicine department uses the right dose, for the right patient, at the right time. Cardinal Health provides web ordering capabilities that allows your nuclear medicine department to send orders online to eliminate potential communication barriers.
Cardinal Health would like to help assist in your collaborative effort with your radiology director, nuclear medicine physicians and technologists. Our list of FAQs provides answers to questions regarding the Pharmacy Director’s potential oversight responsibilities for medication use in nuclear medicine.
Look to Cardinal Health as your nuclear pharmacy experts.
Nuclear Medicine Compliance Resources
 |
FDA-Approved Radiopharmaceuticals PDF, 308KB To help ensure your nuclear medicine department knows whether it is using only commercially available FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals and to assist with formulary development. |
 |
Improved Order Accuracy with Web Ordering PDF, 152KB Learn how we can assist with getting the right radiopharmaceutical dose, to the right patient, at the right time. |
 |
Frequently Asked Questions PDF, 59KB Additional insight about the pharmacy director's potential oversight responsibilities in the nuclear medicine department. |
 |
Package Inserts and Material Safety Data Sheets Detailed information on all medications, radioactive and non-radioactive, used in nuclear medicine. |
