Accreditation

Greeley Reflections

Accreditation Connection, July 26, 2010

Part 1 of 7

Medication Management and pharmacist first-dose review

Patients want and expect that every safeguard is in place when receiving health care services. The challenge is how to make this happen with the complexities of the system in which health care is delivered as safe medication practices lies within the purview of multiple individuals. A 2006 study by the Institute of Medicine showed that there is approximately one medication error per day totaling 1.5 million per year and it is noted that miscommunication between physicians, pharmacists and nurses is a common cause. The requirements of both CMS and The Joint Commission address the critical processes of a safe and effective medication management system and both have been proponents of utilizing pharmacists’ expertise and involvement in the ordering of medications.

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