ISMP releases medication safety self-assessment tool

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices yesterday released a tool to help hospitals and outpatient facilities evaluate their safety practices for “high-alert” medications, identify opportunities for improvement and track their experiences over time. Providers who submit their assessment findings to ISMP anonymously via a secure internet portal by Dec. 15 will receive a weighted score to compare themselves to demographically similar organizations, the institute said. Jay Bhatt, D.O., AHA senior vice president and chief medical officer, said, “America’s hospitals and health systems are moving the needle on quality and patient safety. The new ISMP medication safety self-assessment is a valuable tool for the health field to use in reducing adverse drug events. The AHA is working with nearly 1,700 hospitals around the country through the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network to reduce ADEs.”