Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9342

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Cohen MR.
Voluntary error reporting to the USP/ISMP Medication Error Reporting Program
ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 1993 Dec; 28:

Abstract:

A voluntary practitioner medication error reporting program operated by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, Inc. (ISMP), will be described. When health professionals experience a medication error, a report form is completed by the practitioner or the report may be phoned, toll-free, to USP. Each report is evaluated by the USP for impact on drug standards in the USP/NF and drug information in USP DI. All reports are forwarded to FDA as well as to ISMP for evaluation and recommendation. As necessary, communication with practitioners and pharmaceutical industry is undertaken. Errors thought to be of educational value to the health care community are published in professional journals and newsletters and are communicated near-errors that have been reported through the program involve administering the wrong drug/strength/dose, confusion over look-alike sound-alike drugs, incorrect route of administration, miscalculations, and errors in prescribing and transcribing. The sharing of experiences and observations can have a positive impact on the quality of patient care by affecting drug standards, impacting on pharmaceutical labeling, packaging and nomenclature, and by influencing professional practice.