Approaches to improving the safety of the medication use system.
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.
Ackroyd-Stolarz
Stacy
S
Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS. Stacy.Ackroyd@dal.ca
Hartnell
Nicole
N
MacKinnon
Neil J
NJ
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*