Improving Safety in Medication Administration: Advances in Medication Management

December 6th • 11:15 am – 1:45 pm • Room 312C

Mark Neuenschwander

President

The Neuenschwander Company

Bellevue, Washington

Doris Nessim, B.Sc.Phm., M.A.

Consultant

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Angela Cassano, Pharm.D., BCPS
Manager, Quality Assurance and Drug Safety
Crozer Keystone Health System
Upland, Pennsylvania

Program Description

Research has shown that almost 40% of medication errors occur during the administration phase of medication use. Improper administration of intravenous medications has the potential to cause serious patient injury, and studies have shown that 60% of medication errors involve i.v. therapy. Improving the safety of i.v. infusion therapy, therefore, should be a significant focus of medication safety strategies. Infusion devices with clinical decision-support capability have been developed to help minimize the potential for errors associated with i.v. administration of medications. This symposium will provide an overview of how technology can improve safety in the medication use process. Characteristics of state-of-the-art infusion pumps with decision-support technology will be reviewed, along with practical advice on implementing the technology in a health system and assessing its effectiveness in preventing medication errors.

Program Agenda

11:15 am – 11:20 am

Welcome and Introduction

11:20 am – 12:05 pm

Impact of Automation Technology on the Medication Use Process
Mark Neuenschwander

12:05 pm – 12:50 pm

Improving Medication Safety with Decision-Support Infusion Technology
Doris Nessim, B.Sc.Phm., M.A.

12:50 pm – 1:35 pm

Benefits, Barriers, and Results:
Implementation of Decision-Support Infusion Technology
Angela Cassano, Pharm.D., BCPS

1:35 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Questions and Answers

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Explain the potential impact of i.v. medication errors on patients and the health-care system.

• List the benefits of introducing technology in the medication use process.

• Describe clinical decision-support technology used in infusion devices that are currently available.

• Explain the rationale for implementation of decision-support infusion pump technology.

• Identify potential benefits and barriers a health system may experience when implementing the use of infusion devices with decision-support technology.

• List methods for documenting the effectiveness of infusion devices with decision-support technology in preventing medication errors.

Program number: 204-000-04-434-L04

(2.5 hours continuing education credit)

How to register