Medication Safety Toolkit

Adverse events associated with medications pose a significant risk to patients. This toolkit is packed full of risk assessments, articles, guidelines and resources. These tools can help reduce the risk of adverse drug events, raise awareness of high-risk processes and medications, and help ensure the security of medications throughout the organization.

Reducing the Risk of Medication Errors

Focusing on the processes surrounding medication administration and identifying potential risks can reduce the risk of medication errors. These resources provide tips on how to reduce the risks.

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    ASHP Guidelines on Preventing Medication Errors in Hospitals

    Medication errors can occur at any point in the medication delivery system. These guidelines provide the pharmacist with practical recommendations and best practices for preventing and mitigating patient harm from medication errors.

    TAGS: delivery, system, Preventing, mitigating, Patient, Harm

  • The Joint Commission Sentinel Alert #52

    The misuse of single and multi-dose vials has led to numerous adverse events related to the transmission of infections. This Sentinel Event Alert, published by The Joint Commission in 2014, spotlights the concerns related to the misuse of vials, outlining proper processes and procedures that can be implemented to reduce these risks.

    TAGS: misuse, Event, 2014, Reduce, Risk, outline, proper, Procedures, transmission, Infection

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    Prevention of Medication Errors in the Pediatric Inpatient Setting

    This policy statement, developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, addresses medication errors in the pediatric population. The statement outlines safeguards that should be taken for pediatric patients, going above and beyond those for adults.

    TAGS: Policy, American, academy, safeguards, Patients, adults

  • Articles

    Articles

    Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events

    It is imperative to review medication errors and adverse drug events as this can provide valuable information on the breakdown of processes. The article provides tips on reviewing and identifying key opportunities.

    TAGS: Article, reviewing, identifying, Key, opportunities

  • Drug Shortages Continue to Compromise Patient Care

    This resource discusses how drug shortages can compromise patient care.

    TAGS: compromise, Patient, Care

  • Opioid Overdose

    The CDC provides facts and tips addressing opioid overdose prevention.

    TAGS: CDC, Prevention

Safe Medication Practices

It is important to provide safe medication practices in order to avoid mistakes and serious medication errors. The following resources provide tips for healthcare providers, patients and pharmacists.

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) for Anticoagulant Therapy

    National Patient Safety Goals represent best practices with various processes. This R3 Report from The Joint Commission gives detailed information on the NPSG for anticoagulant therapy that includes the requirement, the rationale for why the requirement was developed, and the reference.

    TAGS: Practices, R3, Joint, Commission, rationale, developed

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    ISMP Safe Practice Guidelines for Adult IV Push Medication

    Although medication errors of any kind are dangerous, IV push medication administration can pose a significant risk to patients due to rapid bioavailability effects and a limited ability to reverse the medication’s impact. This is a comprehensive guide of safe practices compiled by the ISMP that can help reduce the risks to patients when administering medications via IV push.

    TAGS: significant, Risk, Patients, bioavailability, Medication, ISMP

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    ISMP Guidelines for Optimizing Safe Subcutaneous Use of Insulin in Adults

    The goal of diabetes treatment is to manage hyperglycemia while preventing hypoglycemia. Subcutaneous administration of insulin is often used to manage patient glucose levels. However, insulin is a high-risk medication and care should be taken to prevent errors associated with its use. ISMP has developed these guidelines discussing the potential risks associated with insulin administration and safeguards that can be implemented to prevent errors.

    TAGS: insulin, diabetes, Medication, ISMP

  • Articles

    Articles

    Medication Use Safety Resources - American Society of Pharmacists

    The ASHP provides patient safety resources for pharmacists.

    TAGS: ASHP, Patient, Safety, Pharmacists

  • Articles

    Articles

    High Alert Medication Safety

    High alert medication administration is a very important process to ensure patient's receive the correct medication. IHI provides tips on improving the process.

    TAGS: ensure, IHI, improving, Processes

  • Articles

    Articles

    List of Confused Drug Names - Institute for Safe Medication Practices

    ISMP provides a list of look-alike and sound-alike medications.

    TAGS: ISMP

  • Articles

    Articles

    Targeted Medication Safety Best Practices for Hospitals

    ISMP provides best practices for medication safety processes in hospitals.

    TAGS: ISMP, hospitals

Medication Safety Assessment

Proactively conducting assessments of medication safety practices is imperative for ensuring patient safety. These resources provide assessment tools for healthcare providers.

  • Assessment tools

    Assessment tools

    Medication Safety and Security Assessment

    A risk assessment to help evaluate medication safety practices throughout the hospital.

    TAGS: Evaluate, Practice, Hospital

  • Assessment tools

    Assessment tools

    Medication Safety Rounding

    A quick risk assessment tool perfect for unit-specific medication safety rounds. This tool enables the user to electronically send results to a unit manager where an action plan can be entered.

    TAGS: Tools, electronically, Action, plans

Medication Safety Education

Education is crucial to ensure safe medication practices. The following resources provide patient and staff education materials.

  • Flyer/Sign/Poster

    Flyer/Sign/Poster

    Medication Safety Pamphlet

    The Medication Safety pamphlet is for you to provide to patients as a way to help them understand their medication plan. This allows the patient to stay involved and informed with their medical care. Included in each pamphlet is a Medication Tracker designed for easy access to their medication list and folds up for them to keep in their wallet at all times.

    If you would like copies of this publication mailed to you, please contact Lori Ray at 225.368.3801 or loriray@lhatrustfunds.com.

    TAGS: Patient, understanding, Medication, Planning, informed, tracker, easy, access, list, wallets

  • Articles

    Articles

    Medication Safety - Center for Patient Safety

    The Center for Patient Safety provides resources for patients to assist with talking to the doctor about their medications and keeping track of their current prescribed medications.

  • Medical Product Safety Information - FDA

    The FDA provides resources on medication safety information.

    TAGS: Medication, Safety, information

  • Guidelines/Recommendations

    Guidelines/Recommendations

    Improving Medication Safety - WHO

    The WHO provides tips on improving medication safety.

    TAGS: improving, Medication, Safety

  • Articles

    Articles

    Medication Safety During Your Hospital Stay

    While hospitalized, patients are provided a safe medication administration process. Patients can educate themselves on the medication administration process in hospitals.

    TAGS: Patient, safe, Medication, Administration, Processes

  • Articles

    Articles

    Medication Safety Webinars - Institute For Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

    ISMP offers on-demand webinars focusing on safe medication practices.

    TAGS: ISMP, on demand, Practice, safe, medicine, Medication, medical staff