Software teaches pharma students about compounding

OTTAWA – NTS Virtual Health Solutions, the leading provider of telepharmacy services in Canada, is now implementing a simulation software training solution in colleges across Canada to help pharmacy technician students learn about sterile compounding.

Georgian College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have both implemented the Virtual Interactive Cleanroom (VIC) simulation software, developed by Penguin Innovations, as a teaching and training tool for their pharmacy technician students on the steps required when compounding hazardous and non-hazardous products to be administered to patients.

NTS has worked with Penguin Innovations for the past four years to bring to market the VIC simulation software which is compliant with Canadian compounding standards and exposing students to 75+ compounding items to practice on within the simulation.

The modules currently available within the simulation software include:

• Proper hand-washing and garbing procedures
• Product selection and verification
• Medication calculations and compounding
• Interact with products and tools inside a cleanroom
• Proper Cleanliness and disposal of waste
• Product verification module

The simulation software can be customized to incorporate into the existing curriculum based on the teaching area of focus. Many colleges do not have both the infrastructure to physically create sterile compounding rooms or access to all the medications for the students to practice with, especially expensive chemotherapy medications.

“This simulation software provides a unique way for students to learn about the principals and workflows involved with compounding medications before they enter the workforce. We know that compounding employers are investing substantial resources in training new hires in this area and we hope this solution will make graduating students better prepared,” said Sammu Dhaliwall (pictured), senior manager, Business Development at NTS.

“The use of simulation software in the pharmacy education space is almost non-existent. However, it is something which needs to be more embraced by pharmacy programs in universities and colleges, as well as compounding sites such as hospitals, especially since the future of education is incorporating innovative solutions such as simulation software and virtual reality training,” said Sammu.

The VIC simulation software not only provides training/learning modules, but also has the ability to test users on their accuracies in compounding medications. Future modules will also include the ability for users to review prepared labels and identify errors.

NTS Virtual Health Solutions is Canada’s leading telepharmacy provider of remote hospital pharmacist services working with over 90 hospitals across Canada including hospitals utilizing EPIC, Cerner and Meditech Expanse. In 2022, NTS Pharmacists entered or verified over 1.8 million medication orders and were involved in over 230,000 interventions, many of which have prevented adverse events to patients.