Enhancing Medication Error Surveillance for Improved Patient Safety
In this article, Dr. Jill Paslier, PharmD, CSP, FISMP analyzes the benefits of medication error surveillance and how it can enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. Dr. Paslier provides three key components to implementing a successful MES program, and highlights the probable outcomes of increased monitoring. Introduction to Medication Error Surveillance Medication error surveillance […]
Guiding Providers Through the Complexities of Ig Therapy for Patient Safety
IgNS President/CEO Luba Sobolevsky and Director of Educational Resources Rachel Colletta explore the factors that make immunoglobulin therapy so complex, and the different solutions and resources clinicians can use to ensure safe and effective treatment. The Immunoglobulin National Society (IgNS) emerged in 2012 as the leading multidisciplinary association for healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in the […]
IV Therapy Advocacy Through the Lens of a Nurse
Marlene M. Steinheiser, PhD, RN, CRNI®, shares her personal experiences with self-advocacy in infusion therapy. As a seasoned infusion professional, Dr. Steinheiser has not only advocated for her own safety and educated the clinicians around her, but has extended her guidance to family, teaching others how to ensure they receive the best IV therapy possible. […]
The Past, Present, and Future of IV Therapy
Bailey Klingaman explores the history of intravenous infusion therapy and the path to modern treatments. Deb DiTrapano, MSN, RN, OCN predicts the implementation of artificial intelligence in infusion therapy and discusses the effects of the nurse shortage. In the 600 years since infusion therapy was first documented, there have been countless experiments, lives saved and […]
Does Your Practice Have a Culture of Safety? – 3 Questions to Ask
Chuck DiTrapano, RPh and Bailey Klingaman explore the meaning of a culture of safety in clinical organizations. By understanding the motivation of clinicians and application of technology to the practice, organizations can assess the value of safety to its company culture. Having been a healthcare professional for a very long time, I often think about what […]
Minimize Distractions in the Clinical Setting
Chuck DiTrapano, RPh and Bailey Klingaman discuss the dangers of distractions and interruptions in the clinical setting, and provide numerous solutions to help reduce the risk of harmful medication errors and improve patient safety. Anyone who has worked in any healthcare setting can attest to what the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and others […]
Making Medication Administration Safer
Eric Cropp, RPh, shares his personal story about a medication error that forever changed his life, how he became a patient safety advocate, and ways we can make medication administration safer for patients and caregivers. What Happened to Emily Jerry There were multiple red flags leading up to Emily Jerry’s last treatment. The first came […]
Pharmacy Technicians: The Invisible Asset
If you have ever had a prescription filled in a pharmacy, received an IV infusion in a hospital, or received a medication in a nursing home, you have received services from a pharmacy technician. Who are these people? How are they trained? The answer to these questions is both complex and inconsistent but can be […]
The Vital Role of Pharmacy Technicians
The following post was written by Chris Jerry of the Emily Jerry Foundation. Chris tragically lost his daughter as a result of a preventable medical error made by a pharmacy technician. We are grateful to Chris for his courage in sharing his story as well as for the work he is doing to bring light […]
Minimizing Risk with Standardized IV Care for the Infusion Center
In recent years there has been a plethora of new infusion and injection therapies flooding the healthcare market. These new therapies are giving patients with chronic illnesses a broader range of treatment options and providing them the opportunity to live their lives with fewer debilitating chronic symptoms. As an Infusion Center Nurse Manager, with over […]