A recently released ISMP white paper, The Case for Medication Safety Officers (MSO), stresses the need for a MSO to be included as an integral part of the healthcare team. The white paper provides detailed information for hospital leadership on the value of creating a dedicated position directly responsible for and empowered to lead medication safety strategy and implementation. It also describes key roles MSOs can play in optimizing safety, and comparable positions in other safety industries that can serve as models. To access the white paper online, visit ISMP’s website at: https://www.ismp.org/resources/white-paper-case-medication-safety-officers-mso

Join ISMP for a webinar that will inform you about drug product issues that contribute to medication errors around the world, and successful changes that some countries have made to reduce the risk of errors. Working Together to Address Global Drug Safety Issues with Packaging and Labeling will be held on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 from 11:00am to 12:00pm ET. Highlights from a recent international summit on drug labeling and packaging held by global regulators and the International Medication Safety Network will be presented to empower healthcare practitioners, drug manufacturers, and regulators from around the world to focus on medication error prevention. The webinar is offered at no cost and practitioners outside the US are encouraged to attend. For more information or to register, visit: www.ismp.org/node/1113.

ISMP is currently seeking public comment on the revised ISMP’s Guidelines for the Safe Use of Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs) through August 31, 2018 and would appreciate review by our MSOS members. Now it’s your chance to view the revised ADC Guidelines and provide feedback at: https://www.ismp.org/resources/revised-guidelines-safe-use-automated-dis.... Also, a special thank you to those members who, as part of an expert advisory group, provided input for this revision.

The preliminary comparative data from the ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment® for High-Alert Medications is now available online to participants who submitted their findings to ISMP. The quality improvement workbook contains aggregate data that can be used by participants to compare their results to the aggregate results of demographically similar US facilities. Inpatient, outpatient, and prioritization worksheets are provided. 

Shedding Light on a Black Hole: Local Anesthetic Use in the Pediatric OR
Meghan Rowcliffe PharmD, BCPS, BCPPS Medication Safety Officer, Pediatrics The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Avoiding harm: A Focus on the REMS Program for alemtuzumab (Lemtrada)
Jamie Wilkins, PharmD
Deputy Director, Division of Risk Management, Office of Medication Error Prevention and Risk Management, Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, CDER, FDA

Update on the ISMP Smart Infusion Pump Summit
Michelle Mandrack, MSN, Director of Consulting Services, ISMP
David Valentine, PharmD, 2017-2018 ISMP Safe Medication Management Fellow

Update from ISMP
Michael Cohen, RPh, MS, ScD (hon), DPS (hon), FASHP, President, ISMP

Sign up now for the next MSOS Member Briefing webinar scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 1:00-2:00 pm ET.

Short medication safety-related presentations for this webinar will include:

A National Alert Network (NAN) alert was recently sent out regarding the safe handling of concentrated electrolyte products from outsourcing facilities during critical drug shortages. These products, particularly concentrated potassium chloride, may be provided by outsourcing facilities in syringes or vials without the same labeling required by USP for commercially available products. Special precautions should be taken to prevent these products from being dispensed from the pharmacy undiluted, and inadvertently administered which could result in a fatality. Please share this alert with your staff and colleagues. https://www.ismp.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2018-05/NAN%20Alert%2020180524.pdf

Greetings MSOS members!

For those of you attending the ASHP Summer Meeting in Denver, Co please join us for our Member Meeting being held 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Mile High Ballroom 2A, Level 3 (Ballroom Level). (The room is next door to the ISMP Medication Safety Educational Session room.)

Please also join us for a membership get together at the Hilton Garden Inn (adjacent to the convention center) in the Territory Bar Monday, June 4th from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.

We want to invite members attending the ASHP Summer Meeting in Denver, Co to our Member Meeting being held 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Sunday in the Mile High Ballroom 2A, Level 3 (Ballroom Level). (The room is next door to the ISMP Medication Safety Educational Session room.)

We also want to invite members attending the ASHP Summer Meeting in Denver, Co to a membership get together at the Hilton Garden Inn (adjacent to the convention center) in the Territory Bar Monday, June 4th from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.

Join ISMP at the ASHP Summer Meetings and Exhibition in Denver, Colorado, on Monday, June 4, from 12:00-1:30 p.m., for a Promotional Theater--Balancing Unpredictable IV Medication Supply with the Demand for Safe Injection Practices. Ongoing lack of availability of some medications and fluids has made providing safe and effective intravenous drug therapy extremely challenging. ISMP experts will identify key safety issues and discuss error prevention strategies to implement during shortages. Space is limited, and preregistration is encouraged. Lunch will be provided. For more information and to preregister, visit ISMP's new website at: http://www.ismp.org/events/managing-safe-injection-practices-unpredictab... .