What must be included on the label of compounded intravenous medications?

The inclusion of the date of compounding on the label of compounded intravenous medications is crucial for several reasons. It ensures proper tracking and documentation of the medication’s preparation, which is essential for quality control and patient safety. Compounded medications have specific stability and expiration timelines, and the date allows healthcare providers to evaluate whether the preparation is still safe and effective to administer to the patient.

In addition to regulatory compliance, having the date of compounding helps in managing the inventory of medication, minimizing the risk of using outdated products, and facilitating recalls if necessary. Therefore, the date offers important context that enhances patient care by ensuring that only the most appropriate medications are used.

While other elements mentioned, such as time of administration, patient’s insurance information, and pharmacy's location, are important in different contexts, they do not hold the same critical relevance for the labeling of compounded intravenous medications as the date of compounding does. For instance, time of administration may be determined by medical staff rather than being necessary on the label. Similarly, insurance information pertains to billing and administrative processes rather than the medication's safety or effectiveness. Lastly, while the pharmacy's location is relevant for contact purposes, it is not typically considered essential information on the medication label itself.