Tuesday, 29 September 2020 04:00
Written by Deb Saine, MS, RPh, FASHP
Medication Safety Mission: Prevent Patient Harm
Experts estimate at least 1.5 million patients are harmed by medication errors each year in the US. Medication safety – freedom from harm related to medication use - is a fundamental responsibility of all members of the profession of pharmacy.
Pharmacists often serve as leaders of a carefully planned and executed medication safety program within an organization. Such programs include a comprehensive assessment of all steps of the medication-use process:
- Planning (policies, procedures)
- Purchasing (product selection and procurement)
- Storage
- Prescribing
- Dispensing (preparation, distribution)
- Administration
- Patient Monitoring
When designing or improving systems and workflows, both formal and informal leaders should consider each step of the medication-use process. The ultimate goal? To prevent harm to patients!