Practical tools for medication safety in acute care.
Identifying goals in the areas of institutional culture, infrastructure, clinical practice, and technology in hospitals minimizes the risk of medication errors among inpatients. As part of the Pathways for Medication Safety project, a model strategic plan provides seven goals for hospitals to consider in their medication safety efforts. A view of risk assessment from individual health care practitioners can aid a team effort to decease medication errors. Preparing for point-of-care bar-coding for medications will help easy implementation of this new technology. Pathways for Medication Safety provides a toolbox with useful methods and techniques for acute care settings.
Vaida
Allen
A
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Huntingdon Valley, Penn., USA.
Kercher
Lois
L
D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*