Medication safety: look-alike/sound-alike drugs in home care.
A new Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) for 2005 is related to look-alike/sound-alike medications. This article reviews this new goal and what actions home care and hospice organizations need to undertake to meet the intent of this new requirement and provides insightful home care and hospice adaptations to the NPSG's general goals. Even if an agency is not Joint Commission-accredited, this information should be integrated into policies, procedures, and clinician education to avoid dangerous and costly medication errors.
Friedman
Mary McGoldrick
MM
Home Health Systems, Inc., USA. mmf@mindspring.com
D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008509:Medication Systems