Baxa Opens Skills Training, Academics and Resources (STAR) Center for Pharmacy and Cleanroom Skills Training

Englewood, Colo. – At a ceremony held today at its Englewood-based world headquarters, Baxa Corporation opened its state-of-the-art STAR (Skills Training, Academics and Resources) Center for pharmacy and cleanroom skills training. Baxa designed and built the STAR Center as a fully USP 797-compliant pharmacy cleanroom to provide professional education on pharmacy practice, cleanroom principles and compliance to regulatory requirements. The STAR Center, the only dedicated facility of its kind in the world for hands-on cleanroom experience and training in environmental monitoring and aseptic technique, provides a unique opportunity for industry professionals to learn best practice from subject-matter expert trainers.

The first class in the STAR Center, Compliance Tools and Aseptic Certification for USP 797, takes place the week of September 20th 2006. This ACPE-certified training targets pharmacy and IV managers, but provides relevant content for all personnel who compound sterile products. Over 2-1/2 days, the Continuing Education (CE) course covers practical implementation of cleanroom principles and practices that comply with USP 797 and hands-on experience in industry best practice. Topics for this initial program include cleanroom physical design and layout, engineering controls and airflow science, media fill testing and principles associated with work flow, staff training, cleaning, monitoring, validation and documentation.

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Baxa CEO Greg Baldwin noted, “As the only company focused on making hospital pharmacy operations more efficient, Baxa has built true partnerships with our customers. The STAR Center takes that partnership a step further by backing our products with world-class training in best practice.” Following the speech, Baxa associates at the company’s headquarters were invited to an open house at the STAR Center – to see first-hand how the facility has come together since the early planning last winter.

Baxa Corporation sponsored the STAR Center to further best practices in hospital pharmacy. The STAR Center brings together professional and industry partners to provide participants with a range of experience in equipment, technology and design. Pete Campanella PharmaD, Baxa Director of Professional Services affirms that “The STAR Center provides pharmacies with an unparalleled opportunity to improve performance and regulatory compliance. However, the facility has application for many other related industries for training in best practices. We are working with pharmaceutical manufacturers, cleanroom certifiers and others to develop additional course content.” Future class offerings will be determined through professional interest and facility requirements.
About Baxa Corporation

Baxa, a customer-focused medical device company, provides innovative, solution-based technologies for fluid handling and delivery. Its systems and devices promote the safe and efficient preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of fluid medications. Privately held, Baxa Corporation has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada and the United Kingdom; direct representation in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http://www.baxa.com

About the STAR Center

The STAR Center is a state-of-the-art cleanroom, pharmacy and training facility located at the Baxa world headquarters in Englewood, Colorado. The center was purpose-built to support training in aseptic technique, pharmacy workflow and practice, cleanroom design and maintenance and USP 797 compliance among other topics. Classes will be taught by industry-recognized subject matter experts. Further information is available at http://www.baxa.com/starcenter

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Contacts:

Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing
Baxa Corporation http://www.baxa.com 800.567.2292 ext. 2157 or 303.617.2157
Email: marian.robinson@baxa.com

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR
Absolutely Public Relations http://www.absolutelypr.com 303.984.9801 or 303.669.3558
Email: maggie@absolutelypr.com