Journal of Patient Care

High alert medications

World Congress on Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare

September 07-09, 2017 London, UK

Sachin Raval

Apollo Hospitals International Limited, India

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Pat Care

Abstract:

High alert medications are medicines that are most likely to cause significant harm to the patient, even when used as intended. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) reports that the incident rates of this group of medicines may not necessarily be higher than the other medicines but when incidents occur the impact on the patients would be serious (significant). In seeking to improve patient safety, the primary focus should be on preventing errors with the greatest potential for harm. Many of the highest risk medications �?? e.g., concentrated electrolyte, chemotherapy drugs, narcotics, insulin, heparin and LASA are delivered by IV infusion. The most serious and life threatening potential adverse drug events (ADEs) are IV drug related. Preventing the harm from high alert medications: Awareness, readiness, education: Training arranged for nursing, pharmacists and doctors for high alert medication; develop list for high alert medications and show cash in every wards/ICUs. Develop museum for high alert medications. Standardize care process: Double sign and double check at the time of dispensing and administration. PAT (Prescription Audit) verified by clinical pharmacist before indenting; specific label design for each high alert medicine. Decision support: include pharmacist on ward round and monitor overlapping medications prescribe for patients. Prevent failure: Identify LASA medicines and create mechanism to reduce errors (different location and double checking/labeling) and; Involve the patient & family: Patient counseling in case of insulin. Provide patient education at literacy level understandable by all.

Biography :

Sachin Raval is working as Deputy Manager at Apollo Hospitals International limited, Ahmedabad, India. He participated in many international conferences. He is also part of JCI Audit and accredited successfully. He is constantly working on improving quality work and patient safety with recent ideas on high alert medications.