In a recent national news article, ISMP is quoted advocating for requiring entry of at least five letters of a drug’s name when searching automated dispensing cabinets. The article focuses on changes safety experts recommend in the wake of the recent criminal conviction of a former nurse: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/28/health/hospital-drug-mistakes-khn/index.html

A group of our current and past Fellows and staff have provided input on what they would do differently if they returned to frontline patient care after learning firsthand about medication errors at ISMP. See this week’s free featured newsletter article for their advice: https://www.ismp.org/node/31256

Join ISMP and The Just Culture Company on May 6, 2022, from 1:00-2:30 ET for a discussion of lessons learned, system design issues, and justice in the aftermath of the fatal medication error that led to the criminal conviction of a former nurse. To register: https://www.ismp.org/node/31106

This week’s ISMP newsletter is devoted to analysis of the inadequate handling of the trial of RaDonda Vaught, unfair verdict, and consequences of her conviction. For a copy, visit: https://www.ismp.org/node/30912

This week’s ISMP free featured newsletter article identifies multiple common causes of norepinephrine errors and provides safe practice recommendations. For a copy, visit https://www.ismp.org/node/30616

ISMP has published recommendations on how healthcare organizations can address and prevent disrespectful behaviors that impact medication safety. For a copy, visit: https://www.ismp.org/node/30320

Sign up now for the next MSOS Member Briefing webinar scheduled to be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET.
Register Now: https://ecri.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1QKa_UPzQRqLPlQqoxn3hQ

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

• Tools for Tracking Progress
Allison Whalen, PharmD, MHA, CPPS
Medication Safety Officer
OhioHealth Pharmacy Services

• Addressing Incorrect Weight Programming in Infusion Pumps
Silvana Balliu, PharmD, RPh
Smart Pump Pharmacists, Medication Safety
Cleveland Clinic

• Managing the Shortage of CADD Epidural Infusion Supplies
Norka Carranza
Medication Safety Pharmacist
AventHealth Tampa
and
Shannon Robb, PharmD, BCPS
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist- Pain Management Pharmacy
AdventHealth Tampa

One of the leading voices in medication safety, ISMP Vice President Judy Smetzer, BSN, RN, has announced that she will be retiring at the end of February. Judy will continue to work with ISMP as a contractor for several months to help transition responsibilities. She will be incredibly missed—please join us in wishing her well. For details: https://www.ismp.org/node/29911

Nurse colleagues: an evidence-based checklist for IV push best practices is now available! The checklist is based on ISMP guidelines and INS standards, and can be used as a teaching tool to help standardize practice and assess competency: https://qsen.org/iv-push-evidence-based-practice-checklist/

Thank you again to the many hospitals and ambulatory facilities that have already submitted their findings for the ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment®️ for Perioperative Settings! We know that this has been a particularly challenging time for healthcare practitioners continuing to deal with COVID-19 and many other resource-intensive issues.

If your facility has not yet submitted its findings and would still like to participate in this valuable endeavor, there are only 2 more weeks left! Be sure to submit by the February 11 deadline in order to receive your facility’s weighted scores and to gain access to national aggregate results which can be used to compare your facility to demographically similar organizations. This will be the final submission deadline; ISMP is not able to offer any additional deadline extensions.