Healthcare has no shortage of heroes. But the people working behind the scenes to protect patients and healthcare workers from hazardous drug exposure? They rarely get the recognition they deserve.
That's why we created the Healthcare Affirmation Series, to celebrate the medication safety champions who are quietly transforming healthcare, one implementation at a time.
Meet Sandy Hammer, PharmD, BCPPS
Sandy Hammer is a Medication Safety and Quality Pharmacist Specialist at Cottage Health. When her team recently implemented our Rhazdrugs hazardous drugs safety platform, we got a front-row seat to what exceptional medication safety leadership looks like.
Sandy's path to medication safety started in an unexpected place: a pediatric ICU. During her 15+ years as a pediatric clinical specialist, she fell in love with the children's hospital safety culture—where speaking up about errors isn't just encouraged, it's intuitive. Where the patient always comes first, and ego never gets in the way.
When she moved to California post-pandemic and stepped into a medication safety role, everything clicked.
"It felt like a perfect fit," Sandy said. "I look at systems. I anticipate risks with changes, and I really try to emphasize a strong culture of safety and transparency in my organization."
Why Sandy Stands Out: She Made Collaboration the Strategy
Here's what makes Sandy exceptional: she doesn't just believe in collaboration, she builds her entire implementation strategy around it.
At a previous hospital, Sandy watched a safety tool get rolled out with robust education at five facilities, then quietly appear at hers with no support. The results were predictably disappointing.
She wasn't going to let that happen with Rhazdrugs.
"Because nursing comprises a larger proportion of end users than any other department, including pharmacy, their early engagement in the implementation process is essential to realizing the full potential of this tool, well in advance of rollout education," she explained.
Turning Nurses Into Champions
Sandy sent an email to everyone who handles chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs, inviting them to join a working group. Five seasoned oncology nurses, surgical acute care nurses, and others stepped up to become Rhazdrugs champions.
Together, they developed the language, the workflows, and the most effective ways to communicate policies within the platform.
"Nurses directed me to what I needed to know," Sandy said. "I learned what they didn't know about medication safety and what they wanted to know. The customization went smoothly and helped make their day-to-day easier."
Our COO, Caroline McBreen, partnered with a nurse educator to create custom training videos and an on-demand landing page. By the time Rhazdrugs went live, the team was ready.
She Showed Up, Literally
On go-live day, Sandy didn't just make herself available by phone. She went to the units, ready to troubleshoot.
But there was nothing to troubleshoot. Her visit turned into a social hour. Nurses were confidently navigating Rhazdrugs within their EHR, incorporating it seamlessly into their workflow.
That's what happens when you involve the people who will actually use the tool from day one.
Why This Matters
Sandy's approach wasn't just good leadership; it was the difference between a failed rollout and a successful one. By refusing to work in silos and treating nurses as partners instead of end users, she ensured that safe handling and disposal policies actually reached the people they're meant to protect.
That's why Sandy Hammer deserves our applause, our gratitude, and yes, a standing ovation.
Know Someone Like Sandy?
We'd love to celebrate your colleague—or even you—for the outstanding work being done to protect patients and healthcare workers. Email us at info@rpharmy.com to tell us about your healthcare hero!
