ISMP is now taking applications for its 2016-2017 ISMP Safe Medication Management Fellowship and ISMP/FDA Safe Medication Management Fellowship programs. Fellows are based in ISMP’s office in Horsham, PA, near Philadelphia, and over a course of 12 months help develop and implement interdisciplinary error-prevention strategies that focus on system analysis and effectively reduce the risk of medication errors. They also have the chance to collaborate on broad-base communication and education initiatives that reach healthcare professionals and the general public. The fellowships are open to U.S. citizens only. Please inform any interested parties. Applications for the 2016-2017 fellowships are due March 31, 2016. For more information, go to: www.ismp.org/profdevelopment/managementfellowship.asp
MSOS News
ISMP released its new 2016-2017 Targeted Medication Safety Best Practices for Hospitals. There are 5 new best practices related to neuromuscular blockers, smart pumps, antidotes/reversal agents, sterile water bags and sterile compounding (BP 7-11). In addition, two of the 2014-2015 best practices related to oral methotrexate (BP 2) and metric weights (BP 3) have been revised for 2016-2017 based on feedback over the past two years. The new document can be found on the ISMP website at www.ismp.org/tools/bestpractices/TMSBP-for-Hospitals.pdf. If you see the old document, you need to refresh your browser. Any questions about the new TMSBP can be directed to drich@ismp.org.
MSOS would like to thank those who responded to the recent survey we sent to members who listed their role as a full-time or part-time medication safety officers (MSOs). The survey was intended to determine the bed size of the hospitals MSOs in which they work.
Based on a response rate of 21%, there was roughly an equal percentage of MSO’s who categorized the bed size of their facility as 151-300 beds, 301-450 beds, 451-750 beds, over 750 beds, and at the hospital system level. A very small percentage of MSOs (4%) worked in hospitals of 150 beds or less. Based on this survey, most MSO’s who are members of MSOS work in hospitals above 150 beds, and the majority do so in a full-time capacity.
A couple of our members have reported that when they tried to access our website, they got a message that their IP address was blocked. If this happens to you, it is because your internet server IP has been nationally reported for spam or sharing a virus/malware. If you experience this problem, please contact us at tech@medsafetyofficer.org and we will unblock you for our website– however, you also need to inform your IT department, as this problem may happen with other websites with security protocols.
ISMP has just released Safe Practice Guidelines for Adult IV Push Medications, which can be found at: www.ismp.org/sc?id=563. The guidelines are a compilation of safe practices that were developed as a result of a 2-day summit held in September 2014. The guidance statements in the document represent a consensus for safe practices associated with IV push medication preparation and administration to adults. Please take a moment to review the guidelines and share them with your colleagues.
