Baxa Corporation Signs Co-Marketing Agreement with CriticalPoint for Interactive Web-Based Training

Englewood, Colo. – Baxa Corporation has signed a co-marketing agreement with CriticalPoint LLC, to promote its Web-based sterile compounding curriculum. This comprehensive, ACPE-approved program consists of 32 modules that meet USP Chapter 797’s competency assessment requirements. Modules are self-paced and part of CriticalPoint’s Learning Management System (LMS), offering access from any Web connection and providing administrative reporting for tracking employee progress and compliance.

The CriticalPoint curriculum provides step-by-step programs that build a solid foundation of best practice for pharmacists and technicians involved in sterile compounding activities. For Baxa, the modules complement the programming offered in its Skills Training, Academics and Resources (STAR) Center on compliance and aseptic certification for USP 797. Both the classroom and the online training programs were developed by industry professionals and promote skill development and making best practice better.

According to Peter Cantor, CriticalPoint development lead, “Our goal was to assemble the experts and outline the kind of comprehensive program that we felt practitioners need. We developed the content holistically and supported it with robust peer reviews.” “The real benefit to end users,” Peter continues, “is our ability to update best practices and regulatory issues in one program to keep the curriculum current.”

CriticalPoint’s training helps facilities meet both national (USP Chapter 797) and state board required training competencies. In addition, they support classroom-based training by providing a means for ongoing certification. The CriticalPoint modules are harmonized with the current USP Chapter 797 regulation as well as the proposed revisions, which are expected to be finalized in the summer of 2007.

Baxa Corporation will market the CriticalPoint modules as a follow-on to its classroom-based training for USP 797 compliance and aseptic compounding. However, the CriticalPoint modules can be used as stand-alone tools for compounding education and to ensure patient safety. Its 32 modules cover the following topics: Fundamentals of Aseptic Compounding; Environmental Monitoring and Maintenance; Documentation and Policies & Procedures; Personnel Training; Compounding Practices; Engineering Controls and Equipment Use; and Hazardous Drugs Compounding Practices.

Notes pharmacist Pete Campanella, Baxa Director of Professional Services, “Traditionally, Baxa has developed products that promote operational excellence in pharmacy admixture and compounding. The STAR Center and CriticalPoint curricula add training and employee development to that best practice focus.”

Baxa Corporation’s STAR Center brings together professional and industry partners to provide participants with a range of experience in equipment, technology and design. The CriticalPoint modules are sold as stand-alone programs for quality assurance and competency assessment.

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 Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http://www.baxa.com

About CriticalPoint, LLC

CriticalPoint, LLC, offers interactive Web-based training for compounding sterile preparations and services related to creating and enabling learning through technology in clinical settings. CriticalPoint e-Learning represents a best practices approach for interactive training for sterile compounding and is designed to assist healthcare providers in meeting quality assurance program goals and regulatory compliance. For more information visit http://www.criticalpoint.info

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 are 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

Peter Cantor
CriticalPoint, LLC http://www.criticalpoint.info – 240.238.4352
Email: pcantor@criticalpoint.info