Determining Current Insulin Pen Use Practices and Errors in the Inpatient Setting.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Insulin pen use in hospitals is debated due to potential medication errors.
• Despite advantages, safety concerns have led to organizational alerts.
• A survey assessed the prevalence and trends of insulin pen utilization in inpatient settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current adoption and utilization patterns of insulin pens in hospitals.
• To identify reasons for discontinuation of insulin pen use.
• To understand the safety measures implemented during inpatient insulin pen use.

Main Methods:

• A 31-question survey was developed based on literature review and expert evaluation.
• The survey targeted subscribers of medication safety organizations.
• Electronic distribution and data collection from 474 respondents.

Main Results:

• 74% of institutions have insulin pens on formulary; 15% have stopped using them due to cost and safety.
• Common storage practices include pharmacy and patient bins.
• Over half use two patient identifiers and barcode labeling; 30% reported pens used on multiple patients.

Conclusions:

• Insulin pens are prevalent in inpatient settings, with mitigation strategies employed to enhance safety.
• Healthcare professionals perceive insulin pens as clinically useful and safe when managed properly.
• Further research is needed to validate identified risk mitigation strategies for inpatient insulin pen use.