Assessment Tool for Aseptic Compounding (ATAC) Instructions
Instructions for completing the Assessment Tool for Aseptic Compounding (ATAC)
1. Establish an interdisciplinary team consisting of or similar to the following:
- Pharmacy director/ manager
- Frontline staff (at least one of each of the following):
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy technician
- Pharmacy assistant, if applicable
2. Complete the demographic section.
3. Discuss each assessment item and evaluate the pharmacy's current success in implementing the item.
As necessary, investigate and verify the level of implementation for each item with other healthcare practitioners and staff outside the assessment team.
Possible responses:
A There has been no activity to implement this item
B This item has been formally discussed and considered but not implemented
C This item has been partially implemented for some areas, medications and/ or staff in the facility
D This item is fully implemented for some areas, medications and/or staff in the facility
E This item is fully implemented throughout the facility
NA (Not applicable) is available as an option for selected items
If an organization has more than one controlled work area where compounding occurs (e.g., in a satellite pharmacy or in a main dispensary), the responses chosen should reflect the current status in all areas, unless the organization has chosen to use ATAC to assess the operations in only one of those controlled work areas. For instance, if the anteroom in the controlled work area in the main dispensary has a line of demarcation, but the controlled work area in the satellite pharmacy does not, the response should not be E, but rather C or D - to reflect the current status in all areas.
Definitions for key terms (presented in small capitals and underlined) are provided as rollover text.
Teams may want to consider assigning an individual to record any discussion generated around each assessment item and the rationale behind the selected choice. This information, meant for internal use only, can assist the team when reviewing scores for individual items or reassessing the facility at a later date.
Scoring Guidelines:
For all assessment items:
- All assessment items refer to all compounding practices under the responsibility of the pharmacy, unless otherwise noted.
- Choice of E (full implementation) is appropriate only if all components are present and followed by all personnel. If only one or some of the components of the item have been fully implemented in only some or all areas of the facility, select C or D.
The assessment items are scored as follows: A=0 B=1 C=2 D=3 E=4
For assessment items with an option of "Not Applicable (N/A)":
Criteria for "not applicable (N/A)" responses are identified within each item where this selection is available. The purpose of a N/A option is to address situations where a service is not provided or the team is unable to answer the item. For example if your site never compounds with a nonsterile ingredient, assessment items related to this can be marked N/A.
4. Finalize your assessment.
You will be prompted to save your responses for each key element before you proceed to the next key element page. When all responses have been entered, you will be prompted to "Check for errors" and then to submit your results. Your results cannot be changed after you have submitted them.
The web-based survey tool will immediately download the information into a secure database maintained solely by ISMP Canada. No data will be maintained on the Internet survey form after it has been submitted. Confidentiality is assured.
5. Print/view your completed assessment.
Once your results have been submitted you will be able to print a report summarizing your results.
6. Compare your results to the aggregate.
Once your results have been submitted you will immediately be able to compare your results to the aggregate response. You can compare to the total aggregate or to demographically similar organizations using the filters provided.
Individual results can be viewed or accessed only by the facility submitting them. The aggregate findings will be available for viewing by others once a minimum of three facilities have submitted results. CSHP may use aggregate results for research and education purposes.