Using the ISMP Medication Safety Self-Assessment to improve medication use processes

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Medication Management Systems

Background:

• A collaborative of 21 hospitals utilized the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Medication Safety Self-Assessment, a 194-item tool.
• This assessment served as a framework for evaluating and enhancing medication use system safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically implement medication use system safety improvements across a hospital collaborative.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the ISMP Medication Safety Self-Assessment as a framework for improvement.

Main Methods:

• Hospitals used self-assessment results to prioritize medication use process reviews.
• Detailed reviews of "representative characteristics" and establishment of "best implementation practices" were conducted.
• The collaborative identified educational needs and developed implementation tools.

Main Results:

• Participating organizations implemented diverse medication safety improvements by December 2002.
• Hospital scores on the ISMP self-assessment increased by approximately 20% when repeated in Q2 2002.
• This indicates measurable progress in medication safety practices.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative methods and the ISMP self-assessment support progress in medication safety.
• Developing implementation tools and systematically applying lessons learned are key to success.
• Participant progress validates the collaborative approach and the value of the ISMP tool.