[Safeguarding Medication Use Through Interprofessional Collaboration: Example of Inpatient Medication Management and...

The majority of patient safety incidents cited in the latest Taiwan Patient Safety Reporting System Annual Report were medication-related, with human factors and communication issues identified as the key underlying causes of these incidents. Focusing on inpatient settings, the complex yet multiprofessional-linked drug supply scheme currently in place in medical institutions in Taiwan is described, with the aim of facilitating the accessibility and appropriateness of medication use by detailing the responsibilities of each professional role. Institutional medication management and use comprise several sequential and interconnected stages, including formulary management and drug procurement, medication storage, physician prescribing, pharmacist dispensing, nurse administration, and efficacy-and-safety monitoring and reporting. The principal tasks and personnel duties at each stage are addressed. In summary, institutional drug distribution and control is an intricate process that involves multiple processes and a diverse array of professionals and administrative staff. It is imperative to actively engage the relevant parties, especially through in-service training, in order to understand their essential roles and responsibilities and to enable communication and collaboration among stakeholders in the drug distribution chain. Implementing the appropriate initiatives in a timely manner will help establish an effective and robust safe-medication-use system.