Minimization of preventable drug waste through use of a vial combination calculator tool.

This article focuses on the development and implementation of a Microsoft Excel–based automated vial selection calculator designed to minimize preventable drug waste in outpatient oncology pharmacies. Targeting 23 high-cost chemotherapy and monoclonal antibody medications packaged in single-dose vials of varying sizes, the tool was introduced across 11 outpatient pharmacies within a large oncology network alongside monthly staff education. Following implementation, preventable drug waste costs and suboptimal vial combination selections decreased by approximately 51% and 54%, respectively, in fiscal year 2022, with continued reductions observed in fiscal year 2023. The study highlights that combining automation with a culture emphasizing waste reduction can significantly improve pharmaceutical cost efficiency, though limitations include manual data entry and lack of integration with electronic medical records (EMR) and inventory systems. Future recommendations include developing fully integrated systems to automate vial selection from order entry to product dispensing to further optimize waste reduction and operational efficiency.