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Enhancing medication use safety: benefits of learning from your peers

V A Kazandjian1, S Ogunbo, K G Wicker

  • 1Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. vkazandjian@mhaonline.org

Quality & Safety in Health Care
|October 9, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Maryland hospitals significantly improved medication safety practices between 2005 and 2007. The Medication Safety Self-Assessment for Hospitals initiative demonstrated positive changes in drug standardization and labeling, though patient information access needs improvement.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare quality improvement
  • Medication safety research
  • Hospital administration

Background:

  • Maryland hospitals have focused on enhancing medication use safety since 2000.
  • A retrospective analysis examined medication use, communication, patient education, and record management in 35 Maryland hospitals from 2005-2007.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess changes in medication use safety practices in Maryland hospitals.
  • To evaluate the impact of the Medication Safety Self-Assessment for Hospitals initiative.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-five hospitals participated in the voluntary Institute for Safe Medication Practices Medication Safety Self-Assessment for Hospitals.
  • ANOVA and regression analyses were performed on weighted scores for key elements and core characteristics.

Main Results:

  • The statewide aggregate score increased significantly from 74.2% in 2005 to 81.2% in 2007.
  • Highest scores were in drug standardization, storage, distribution, labeling, packaging, nomenclature, and environmental factors.
  • Lowest scores were in patient information accessibility and redundancies/independent double checks.

Conclusions:

  • The MEDSAFE initiative has demonstrably improved medication use safety in Maryland hospitals.
  • MEDSAFE strategies have been implemented in Maryland since 2000 and internationally since 2006.

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