title: Approaches to improving the safety of the medication use system.
abstract: Problems associated with medication use have been consistently identified in the patient safety literature internationally. The purpose of this paper is to review components of the medication use process and offer suggestions for transforming it into a safer system. Prevention strategies are suggested for improving medication use at each stage of the system. Decision criteria are proposed that can be used by administrators and healthcare providers to allocate resources for prevention strategies that will improve medication safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. Stacy.Ackroyd@dal.ca
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ackroyd-Stolarz
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hartnell
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009313:National Health Programs; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*