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Showing results for tags 'Medication'.
Found 1,130 results
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Content ArticleIn this study published in the Quality Management in Healthcare journal, a community health organisation’s successful method of frontline staff committee engagement generated process changes that culminated in reduced medication errors and increased near misses. Continuous quality improvement initiatives supported by these committees included technical handling and administration of medication, medication reconciliation, and enhancements to standardised treatment protocols.
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Content ArticlePrescription drug errors are a leading source of harm in health care, resulting in substantial morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs estimated at more than $20 billion annually in the US. Currently, clinical decision support (CDS) alerting tools – computerised alerts and reminders – are widely used to identify and reduce medication errors. However, CDS systems have a variety of limitations, including that they are rule based and can identify only medication errors that have been previously identified and programmed into the alerting logic. A new study from Rozenblum et al., published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, used retrospective data to evaluate the ability of a machine learning system – a platform that applies and automates advanced machine learning algorithms – to identify and prevent medication prescribing errors not previously identified by and programmed into the existing CDS system.
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Content ArticleA recent report from the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch, Investigation into electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems and safe discharge, highlighted the fact that poorly implemented ePMA (electronic prescribing and medicines administration) systems can result in potentially fatal medication errors. The report focused on the death of 75 year-old Mrs Ann Midson, following a medication error. In this podcast interview, Pharmacy in Practice speaks to Scott Hislop and Helen Jones, two of the investigators, to discuss the series of events that ultimately culminated in the sad passing of Mrs Ann Midson.
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Content ArticleHarold Shipman was an English doctor who killed approximately 15 patients while working as a junior hospital doctor in the 1970s, and another 235 or so when working subsequently as a general practitioner. Is it possible to learn general lessons to improve patient safety from such extraordinary events? In this paper, published in the US Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, it is argued that it is not possible fully to understand how Shipman came to be such a successful and prolific serial killer, nor to learn how the safety of healthcare systems can be improved, unless his diabolical activities are studied using approaches developed to investigate patient safety.
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Content ArticleThe Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) recently published a report that highlighted the fact that poorly implemented ePMA (electronic prescribing and medicines administration) systems can result in potentially fatal medication errors. The report comes after HSIB looked at the case of 75-year old Ann Midson, who was left taking two powerful blood-thinning medications after a mix-up at her local hospital where she was receiving treatment whilst suffering from incurable cancer. PRAC+TICE caught up with Scott Hislop and Helen Jones, two of the investigators, on this podcast to discuss the series of events that ultimately culminated in the sad passing of Mrs Ann Midson.
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Content ArticleThere are an estimated 200,000 severe adverse drug errors (ADRs) in Canada each year, though it is estimated that 95% of ADRs are not reported. They cost the Canadian healthcare system between $13.7 and $17.7 billion each year and kill up to 22,000 Canadians each year. Over 5,000 of these are Canadian children. ADR Canada is working to prevent this. This article explains the role of genomics in the solution to adverse drug reactions.
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Content ArticleSince the emergence of the opioid epidemic in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century, more than 400,000 Americans have died as the result of an opioid overdose. As of 2018, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that more two million people have an opioid use disorder. With the rate of opioid-related inpatient stays and the number of opioid-related emergency department visits continuing to rise dramatically in the US, hospitals have the opportunity to make a major impact in reducing morbidity and mortality related to opioid use. This document, produced by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, provides system-level strategies that hospitals can implement immediately to address the challenges of preventing, identifying, and treating opioid use disorder.
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Content ArticleNeptune's Dr Catherine Massey, Clinical Director, and Sophie Britt, Lead Trainer, tell us about their initiative and the difference it has made to patient safety and how it felt to win a Patient Safety Learning Award. They also discuss what they plan to do next. View video
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Content ArticleHealthcare professionals were made aware of alerts and letters issued about adrenaline auto-injectors in September and October 2019 by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. This article provides a summary of recent advice issued to healthcare professionals, including information to provide to patients, to support safe use of adrenaline auto-injectors.
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Safe practices for drug allergies using CDS and health IT (2019)
Claire Cox posted an article in Allergies
The Partnership for Health IT Patient Safety, a national collaborative convened by ECRI Institute, has released a new report on drug allergy interactions and how clinical decision support (CDS) and health information technology (IT) can be used to improve safety. Drug allergy alerts, a feature of clinical decision support (CDS), incorporated within the electronic health record (EHR), act as a safeguard against prescribing or dispensing a medication to which a patient has a documented allergy that could cause an adverse event for a patient. Drug allergy interactions are an important patient safety concern. Inadequate communication and display of drug allergy interaction information may result in incorrect treatment, delay care, or result in additional or prolonged care for a patient. -
Content ArticleLast year, 63 healthcare professionals in England were found stealing controlled drugs and/or providing care whilst working under the influence of controlled drugs. By law, designated bodies must have a Controlled Drug Accountable Officer (CDAO). This is a case study demonstrating the role of the CDAO and safety of controlled drugs.
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Content ArticleIn Calgary, each of the three acute-care adult hospitals had different anesthetic medication carts with their own type and layout of anaesthetic medications. A number of anaesthesiologists moved among the different sites, increasing the potential for medication errors. The objective of this study from Schultz et al., published in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, was to identify the anesthetic medications to include and to determine how they should be grouped and positioned in a standardised anesthesia medication cart drawer. Implementation of the standardised medication drawer is expected to reduce the likelihood of medication errors. Future research should include testing the clinical implications of this standardization and applying the methodology to other areas.
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Content ArticlePharmaceutical companies use a variety of abbreviations to denote short- and long-acting medications. Errors involving the administration of these medications are frequently reported.
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Content ArticleA new study published in the December 2019 issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety details a quality improvement project by researchers at Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, USA, to reduce the risk of single-patient insulin pens. Insulin pens are widely used in hospitals because they have multiple safety advantages compared to insulin vials, including a product name and barcode and a dial mechanism for less error-prone dosing. Despite these features, accidental sharing of pens still occurs, putting patients at risk for exposure to HIV, hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus.
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Content ArticleAHRQ’s new toolkit to improve antibiotic use in acute care hospitals. Based on the experiences of more than 400 hospitals that participated in AHRQ’s Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use, the toolkit guides users through its signature 'Four Moments of Antibiotic Decision Making,' a step-by-step approach for doctors to achieve optimal antibiotic prescribing.
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Content ArticleI have worked in the UK NHS as a hospital pharmacist for 13 years, experiencing a variety of specialities before specialising in cancer and education and, more recently, gastroenterology. I am also an avid traveller and have witnessed that, while we are globally connected, populations around the world are not as fortunate as we are in the UK for medicine and healthcare access and as a result are dying of very treatable diseases. This fuelled me to enrol on the Global Health Policy post-graduate masters (MSc). On completing my MSc, an opportunity arose to take part in the Global Health Fellowship and so I began working with Zambian colleagues at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and University of Zambia (UNZA), Lusaka, via the Brighton-Lusaka health link. This fellowship is a collaborative project between Commonwealth Pharmacists Association (CPA), Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) and the Fleming Fund and is an avenue for pharmacists to become more involved in global health and improve medicine usage.
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Content ArticleExamples and recommendations around how to implement some aspects from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's report: Getting the medicines right.
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Content ArticleGood patient-pharmacist communication improves health outcomes. There is, however, room for improving pharmacists’ communication skills. These develop through complex interactions during undergraduate pharmacy education, practice-based learning and continuing professional development. The aim of the research, published in Systemic Reviews, is to understand how educational interventions develop patient-pharmacist interpersonal communication skills produce their effects.
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Content Article
Royal Pharmaceutical Society: Antimicrobial stewardship portal
Claire Cox posted an article in Medicine management
The AMS Portal signposts resources and information to promote learning about antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and antibiotic resistance. The Portal focuses on resources in the UK for pharmacists and pharmacy teams and within each section they have identified key resources to support pharmacy practice within the UK. They recognise, however, the need to signpost worldwide information and resources from outside the UK and these are also included as additional links. The aim is to continuously develop the AMS Portal to be accessible across all healthcare professions, encouraging a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach for improvement of antimicrobial use. The AMS Portal is intended as a dynamic ‘living’ resource which is constantly revised and updated. -
Content Article
Royal Pharmaceutical Society: Pharmacy alerts
Claire Cox posted an article in Medication
Keep up to date with changes affecting your practice, including drug news, safety updates, drug alerts, legislative changes and new guidance or standards. These drug safety alerts are updated regularly by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. -
Content ArticleHealthcare organisations including regulators, royal colleges and faculties have issued a set of principles to help protect patient safety and welfare when accessing potentially-harmful medication online or over the phone. The jointly-agreed princsiples set out the good practice expected of healthcare professionals when prescribing medication online.
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Content ArticlePolypharmacy is an ongoing challenge for the NHS, particularly affecting older people. Wessex Academic Health Science Network, on behalf of the AHSN Network, led work to develop the NHS Business Services Authority Polypharmacy Prescribing Comparators. These help clinical commissioning groups and GP practices understand variation in prescribing of multiple medicines and enable identification of patients most exposed to the risks of polypharmacy. The Comparators are now a nationally available data tool, and data shows that if used to full effect, they can help CCGs and GP practices to reduce the rate of polypharmacy in patients at greatest risk.
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Content ArticleAntibiotic resistance is increasing worldwide due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Newborn baby Amala has a life-threatening infection called septicemia. Will her antibiotic treatment work? This video from the World Health Organization (WHO) explains what people can do to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance.
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Content ArticleThis toolkit, published by Public Health England, provides an outline of evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship in the secondary healthcare setting. Following this toolkit will help organisations to demonstrate compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.
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Content ArticleTARGET stands for: Treat Antibiotics Responsibly, Guidance, Education, Tools. The toolkit helps influence prescribers’ and patients’ personal attitudes, social norms and perceived barriers to optimal antibiotic prescribing. It includes a range of resources that can each be used to support prescribers’ and patients’ responsible antibiotic use, helping to fulfil continued professional development (CPD) and revalidation requirements.
