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American Medical News

American Medical News

 
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News in brief - June 12, 2000


Web site corrects mistakes on drug information - AHA launches series of patient safety initiatives - Quality group seeks to involve patients in safety efforts

Web site corrects mistakes on drug information

Information correctingserious published mistakes involving medications is now part of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Web site (http://www.ismp.org/). "Textbook Errata" is designed to keep practitioners informed about corrections and to allow drug reference publishers to report errors. Practitioners also are encouraged to report potential and actual errors stemming from incorrect published material.

AHA launches series of patient safety initiatives

The American Hospital Assn. is disseminating information on best practices and surveying its members to document to what extent they've implemented recommended practices to enhance patient safety. The association also recently distributed a self-assessment tool to help facilities identify ways to improve medication safety. A similar instrument aimed at group practices, ambulatory surgery centers and other outpatient settings currently is being developed by the AHA and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

Quality group seeks to involve patients in safety efforts

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently published "20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors," which advises patients to ensure all their doctors know every medication they are taking, be certain they can read their doctor's prescriptions, verify before surgery that everyone involved knows exactly what will be done, and not to assume that no news about test results is good news. The fact sheet can be found on the Web site (http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm).

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