ISMP has identified the top three medication errors and hazards that were recurring themes in the acute care newsletter in 2023 and can be avoided or minimized with system and/or practice changes. See this week’s featured newsletter article for prevention strategies: www.ismp.org/node/128186

Increased demand and shortages of GLP-1 receptor agonists to aid in weight loss has led to reported errors with compounded versions of these drugs. For safe practice recommendations: www.ismp.org/node/126800

Sign up now for the next MSOS Member Briefing webinar scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET. Register Now:
Short medication safety-related presentations for this webinar will include: https://ecri.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p-ku-A2AS-yhIcvIRUoRug

• What Did You Mean? Instructions on Prescriptions
Mariam Gawdat, PharmD, MS
FDA/ISMP Safe Medication Management Fellow
ISMP

• Simulation Medications, the Risk is “Real”
Mara Weber, PharmD, BSRT
Medication Safety Pharmacist
OhioHealth- Doctor’s Hospital

• Federal Funding Opportunities for Medication Safety Research
Farzana Samad, PharmD, FISMP
Health Science Administrator
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

• ISMP Update
Rita K. Jew, PharmD, MBA, BCPPS, FASHP
President, ISMP

Patient Safety Awareness Week is a good time to assess how your organization is applying ISMP’s 2024-2025 Targeted Medication Safety Best Practices for Hospitals. Please participate in our online survey to establish a baseline measurement of current level of implementation—deadline is April 19, 2024: https://www.ismp.org/guidelines/best-practices-hospitals

Drug diversion can involve high-value non-controlled medications, such as those used to treat cancer or symptoms of opioid use. This week’s featured article provides recommendations for incorporating medications beyond controlled substances in diversion response programs: https://www.ismp.org/node/126033

ISMP is accepting applications for the FDA/ISMP Safe Medication Management Fellowship that begins this summer! Fellows spend six months each with ISMP and the FDA to gain valuable regulatory experience and learn current approaches to error prevention. Application deadline is March 29, 2024: https://www.ismp.org/professional-development/fellowships

ISMP has released its updated list of consensus-based Best Practices, which includes new recommendations on tranexamic acid, vaccines, and transitions in care: www.ismp.org/node/160/. We encourage hospitals and health systems to incorporate them into their medication safety efforts and also to participate in a brief survey measuring current implementation of the new practices by April 19, 2024: https://surveys.ismp.org/s3/ISMP-Survey-on-the-Three-NEW-2024-2025-Targe...

The phrase “protect from light” is often poorly defined. This week’s featured newsletter article provides insights and safe practice recommendations: www.ismp.org/node/121525

This week’s ISMP featured newsletter article warns about online merchandise that looks like real medications, sometimes with a scannable barcode. For safe practice recommendations to help avoid potential for drug diversion and risk of patient harm: www.ismp.org/node/119273

Don’t miss a unique opportunity to maximize your error prevention efforts and look at your organization through the eyes of leading safety experts! Register for ISMP’s virtual Medication Safety Intensive Workshop on March 7-8, 2024, and learn to develop a program that can meet current challenges and use data for sustained improvement: www.ismp.org/node/76170