Please let me know if this sounds any better I still have my old draft as well Thanks
Patient safety and promotion of zero medication errors are common goals in every healthcare institution. One of the policies that answers the said goals is the policy made by JCAHO that was made effective on January 2004. The said guideline is the "do not" use abbreviation. JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) provided institutions with a list of dangerous abbreviations that should be avoided in clinical documentation. Examples of which are "U" which is used for units, Q.D. and Q.O.D that are commonly interchanged, MgSO4 and MS that are also confused for one another.
Moreover, ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practice) also promotes the consistent application of not using specified abbreviations to prevent errors. The said policy recommends not using abbreviations, symbols and acronyms in medical communication. Examples of which are: D/C for discharge which is also interpreted as discontinue, T.I.W which means three times a week but is sometimes interpreted as three times a day.
The said policy was made because of the errors that the abbreviations cause. According to John P. Santell, MS, RPh, dangerous abbreviations and symbols compromise patient care and place health team members to commit medication errors. Studies have shown that the use of abbreviations/ acronyms or symbols in medical communication had been one of the reasons of medication errors. Commonly, abbreviations are misinterpreted that leads to unsafe health practice. It had been recorded that about 19,000 errors from 498 facilities stated that abbreviations are the cause of the error. (USP Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety. U.S. Pharmacopeia's MEDMAR )
Therefore, these abbreviations should never be used in communicating with other health team members such as prescriptions, nurse's notes, doctor's order, medication treatment records and medication cards. Consequently, the use of the said policy is of great advantage to the healthcare system. First and foremost, it ensures patient safety because of the prevention of errors. Secondly, it promotes safe and efficient communication between the health care team.
However, aside from the available policy from the JCAHO, an extensive written policy regarding the said issue should be researched and accomplished. Corresponding sanctions should also be created if the policy is not followed. An extensive policy will result to better outcomes. Furthermore, the "do not use abbreviation "policy is not enough to prevent medication errors. Along with the use of the policy, proper information dissemination and adequate education of the health care members should be enhanced. I strongly believe that posting the list of the said abbreviations in nursing units, bulletin boards and the internet is not enough to fully stop errors. Provision of teachings and ensuring that all medical staff are fully oriented and are following the policy are ways to prevent errors due to usage of abbreviations. Also, regular evaluation of the adherence to the policy should also be done. Memo should be given to medical members not following the policy. Strict application of the policy should be implemented so as to prevent lapses in the adherence to the policy.
In conclusion, JCAHO, ISMP, other private organizations and hospitals have taken the big step to reduce errors caused by the use of abbreviations, symbols and acronyms. However, we can never be too safe. It is important that proper education be given to all the health care members and frequent evaluation be done. Regular seminars should also be conducted for medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff on the potential for misinterpretation whenever a new drug product is added to the facility's formulary. Additionally, it is also a responsibility of the health team to strictly adhere to the policy. Since the policy was started, it is also recommended that a more extensive and an updated written policy be carried out.
REFERENCES:
- AORN Guidance Statement: "Do-Not-Use" Abbreviations, Acronyms, Dosage Designations, and Symbols. , Volume 84 , Issue 3 , Pages 489 – 492
- Beware of Abbreviations: A 'Do Not Use List' Can Help Avoid Problems by John P. Santell, MS, RPh USP Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety
The passage discusses the importance of patient safety and the promotion of zero medication errors in healthcare institutions. It talks about the policy made by JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) that prohibits the use of certain dangerous abbreviations in clinical documentation. Examples of these dangerous abbreviations include "U" for units, Q.D. and Q.O.D, MgSO4 and MS.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) also supports the consistent application of not using specified abbreviations to prevent errors. The policy recommends avoiding abbreviations, symbols, and acronyms in medical communication. Examples include "D/C" for discharge, which can also be interpreted as discontinue, and "T.I.W," which means three times a week but is sometimes interpreted as three times a day.
The reason for implementing this policy is that abbreviations and symbols compromise patient care and can lead to medication errors. Studies have shown that the use of abbreviations, acronyms, or symbols in medical communication is a common cause of medication errors. Around 19,000 errors from 498 facilities were attributed to the use of abbreviations.
To ensure patient safety and facilitate effective communication within the healthcare team, the policy suggests not using these abbreviations in prescriptions, nurse's notes, doctor's orders, medication treatment records, and medication cards. Additionally, it proposes the creation of an extensive written policy and corresponding sanctions for non-compliance. Education and dissemination of information should also be enhanced among healthcare members. Evaluation of adherence to the policy and strict enforcement are crucial to preventing errors due to the use of abbreviations.
In conclusion, while organizations and hospitals have taken steps to reduce errors caused by abbreviations, continuous education, evaluation, and strict adherence to the policy are necessary. It is recommended to have an updated and extensive written policy in place to further minimize medication errors.
References:
- AORN Guidance Statement: "Do-Not-Use" Abbreviations, Acronyms, Dosage Designations, and Symbols.
- Beware of Abbreviations: A 'Do Not Use List' Can Help Avoid Problems by John P. Santell, MS, RPh, USP Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety.
The overall content of your passage on the policy of not using abbreviations in medical communication is clear and informative. However, there are a few suggestions to improve the clarity and flow of the writing:
1. Consider restructuring the first sentence of the passage for better readability. For example, you can start by mentioning the "do not use abbreviation" policy as the focus and then provide some background information on patient safety and medication errors.
2. Instead of using long, descriptive phrases like "Patient safety and promotion of zero medication errors are common goals in every healthcare institution," try breaking it into separate sentences for easier understanding. For example, "Patient safety is a primary goal in every healthcare institution. To achieve this, it is essential to promote zero medication errors."
3. Provide a brief explanation of what JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) and ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practice) are before introducing their policies. This will help readers who may not be familiar with these organizations to better understand the context of the policy.
4. Use paragraphs to separate different ideas and topics. The passage appears as one long paragraph, making it difficult to distinguish different points being made.
5. Consider integrating the references within the text instead of placing them as separate bullet points at the end. This will make the passage more cohesive.
Here's a revised version using some of these suggestions:
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Patient safety and the prevention of medication errors are vital goals in healthcare institutions. To address these concerns, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) implemented a policy effective as of January 2004, commonly known as the "do not use abbreviation" policy. JCAHO provided healthcare institutions with a list of dangerous abbreviations that should be avoided in clinical documentation. These include abbreviations such as "U" for units, Q.D. and Q.O.D., which are often confused, and MgSO4 and MS, which can lead to errors.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) also advocates against the use of specific abbreviations, symbols, and acronyms in medical communication to prevent errors. For example, in medical communication, abbreviations like D/C (interpreted as discharge) and T.I.W (often mistaken for three times a day) can lead to misunderstandings.
These policies were formulated due to the significant risks posed by abbreviations and symbols. Dangerous abbreviations compromise patient care and increase the likelihood of medication errors. Studies have shown that misinterpretations of abbreviations and acronyms in medical communication have been a contributing factor to medication errors, with approximately 19,000 errors attributed to abbreviations in a study involving 498 facilities (USP Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety).
To ensure patient safety and effective communication within the healthcare team, it is crucial to avoid using these abbreviations in prescriptions, nurse's notes, doctor's orders, medication treatment records, and medication cards. The compliance with the "do not use abbreviation" policy offers several advantages to the healthcare system. Firstly, it helps prevent errors, ensuring patient safety. Secondly, it promotes safe and efficient communication among healthcare professionals.
However, it is important to note that the JCAHO policy alone is not sufficient to eliminate medication errors related to abbreviations. A comprehensive written policy addressing this issue should be researched and implemented with corresponding sanctions for non-compliance. Additionally, providing proper education and training to all healthcare team members, along with continuous evaluation of policy adherence, is essential. It is recommended to conduct regular seminars for medical, nursing, and pharmacy staff on the potential for misinterpretation when introducing new drug products. Moreover, strict enforcement of the policy and timely communication through memos to non-compliant medical staff support the prevention of lapses in adherence.
In conclusion, various organizations, including JCAHO, ISMP, and hospitals, have taken significant steps to reduce errors caused by the use of abbreviations, symbols, and acronyms. However, continual education, evaluation, and the implementation of an extensive and updated written policy are necessary to ensure ongoing improvement in patient safety.
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Please note that the revised version is only a suggestion, and you can further modify it to fit your style and purpose.