SHELDON S. SONES AND ASSOCIATES

THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP….

                  BENCHMARKING FOR MEDICATION SAFETY

                                2006  MEDICATION SAFETY INDEX

The highest priority of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates is the focus on medication safety in the perioperative area.  Drawn from standards established by accrediting agencies as well as best practice experience, and embracing the work of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the National Quality Forum, we will be monitoring all sites for their current medication safety index based on the compliance with the following first fifteen criteria:

·          All patients identified by wristband

·          Allergies conspicuously noted and follow through on the chart

·          Interviewed nurses answer correctly regarding verbal orders read back after writing (VORB)

·          No evidence of co-mingling of drugs in common sections of med carts or cabinets

·          Med  (OR  IVs) orders are not “vague” i.e. Fentanyl 50 mcg prn for pain (lacks frequency allowed and ceiling dose, KVO)

·          Dangerous abbreviations are posted and using tracer methodology are not evident in the medical record,LABELS

·          Evidence that the Code Cart is checked monthly by different staff members to maintain familiarity with contents. Good cart status

·          Drug recall process shows evidence of effective process i.e. folder is not empty)

·           Interviewed nurses answer correctly regarding two method requirement for patient identification

·          Medications are labeled accurately and fully and in date

·          Poison control number is posted

·          Maintain a list of Look-Alike Sound Alike drugs AND High Alert Drugs and Policy for Management NEW

·          Develop or have developed a satisfactory methodology to communicate drugs administered postoperatively to the next provider of services when your center transfers i.e. to a nursing home

·          Maintaining more than one strength of drugs if not clearly necessary, i.e. lidocaines OK, many strengths of Morphine not a good idea

·          Evidence that med occurrences are reviewed with staff to prevent re-occurrence

·          Infusion Pumps available for critical drug dosaging per safety guidelines  NEW

                                        EACH ELEMENT = 6 INDEX POINTS

NOTE: HIGHLIGHTED SECTIONS =  WORK IN PROGRESS

© Sheldon S. Sones and Associates 2004