Baxa Corporation announces the dates for its STAR Center in 2010. Together with USP, the company plans ten class sessions focused on pharmacy best practice in relation to USP 797 regulatory compliance and hazardous drug handling. 

Englewood, Colo., November 16, 2009 – Baxa Corporation has published the 2010 course dates for training at its STAR (Skills Training, Academics and Resources) Center®. The STAR Center, the world’s first purpose-built premier facility designed for cleanroom and pharmacy practice demonstration, is located at the company’s headquarters south of Denver, Colorado.  Together, Baxa and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) will host a series of courses in 2010 to be taught by industry experts and members of the USP 797 Sterile Compounding Committee. 
 
The first ACPE-accredited USP compliance class will be held February 23 - 25, 2010 with subsequent program dates running through October, 2010. Attendance in STAR Center classes is limited to 24 participants to ensure resource availability, student teacher ratios and the opportunity for hands-on experience in the ISO 7 cleanroom.
 
Baxa, in association with USP, recommends the Aseptic Processing and Compliance Tools for USP 797 course to equip compounding professionals with core knowledge and skills toward USP 797 compliance and industry best practice. Course topics include cleanroom physical design and layout, engineering controls and airflow science, media fill testing and principles associated with workflow, staff training, cleaning, monitoring, validation and documentation.
 
Throughout 2010, participants will be able to register for the Aseptic Processing and Compliance Tools for USP 797 course at a newly discounted price of $1,875; a 10% discount to standard pricing. 

The Safe Handling and Preparation of Hazardous Drugs course educates pharmacists, technicians, nurses and physicians on how to handle hazardous drugs safely, while complying with regulatory requirements and industry best practice. This ten-hour course covers critical topics including engineering controls required when compounding hazardous drugs, proper use of closed-system drug transfer devices (CSDTDs), procedures for handling hazardous drug spills, hazardous waste containment and disposal and regulatory compliance. 
 
Baxa Corporation sponsors the STAR Center to further best practices in health-system pharmacy operations and facility design. The STAR Center brings together professional and industry partners to provide participants with a range of experiences in equipment, technology and processes. The STAR Center launched in fall 2006. Contact Baxa Corporation at http://www.baxa.com/starcenter for more information, including the complete schedule of 2010 course dates.
 
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 

About USP — Advancing Public Health Since 1820

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific, nonprofit, standards-setting organization that advances public health through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods. USP's standards are recognized and used worldwide. For more information about USP visit http://www.usp.org 

About Baxa Corporation

Baxa, a customer-focused medical device company, provides innovative, solution-based technologies for medication handling and delivery.  Its systems and devices promote the safe and efficient preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of medications.  Key products include the PadLock® Set Saver, Rapid-Fill™ Automated Syringe Fillers, Exacta-Med® Oral Dispensers, MicroFuse® Syringe Infusers, Repeater™ Pharmacy Pumps, and Exacta-Mix™ and MicroMacro™ Multi-Source Automated Compounders; used worldwide in hospitals and healthcare facilities.  Privately held, Baxa Corporation has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada and the United Kingdom; direct representation in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland; and distribution partners worldwide.  Further information is available at http://www.baxa.com

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Contacts:

Marian Robinson, Vice President, Marketing
Baxa Corporation: 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

Sandra Kim, Manager, Media Relations USP
USP: 301.816.8241
Email: sek@usp.org