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
as well as my web-sites used
Because patient safety and promotion of zero medication errors are common goals in every healthcare institution, one of the policies that answer 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) provides 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.
First of all, 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.
In addition, 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 has 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 )
Equally important, 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 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 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 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.
Grace, First I would suggest combining the first and second paragraphs. You have a tendency to be repetitive. Below are some suggestions.
Patient safety and promotion of zero medication errors are common goals in every healthcare institution. One of the policies that answers these goals is the policy made by JCAHO that was made effective on January 2004. This guideline is the "do not" use abbreviations. 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 problem abbreviation usage 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.
In additiion, ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practice) also promotes the not using specified abbreviations in order to prevent errors. Their policy recommends not using abbreviations, symbols and acronyms in medical communication.
According to John P. Santell, MS, RPh, dangerous abbreviations and symbols compromise patient care and cause health team members to commit medication errors. Studies have shown that the use of abbreviations/ acronyms or symbols in medical communication have been one of the reasons for medication errors. Commonly used abbreviations are misinterpreted which leads to unsafe health practice. 498 facilities recorded that about 19,000 errors caused by the use of abbreviations. (USP Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety. U.S. Pharmacopeia's MEDMAR ) In addition, these abbreviations should never be used in communicating with other health team members ; ie prescriptions, nurse's notes, doctor's order, medication treatment records and medication cards. This action will
ensure patient safety as well as promote safe and efficient communication between the health care team.
To augment the policy from the JCAHO, an extensive written policy regarding this issue should be researched and established. Corresponding sanctions should also be created for those not following the policy. 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 stop errors. Provision to ensure that all medical staff are given appropriate orientation and are fully aware and are following the policy are ways to prevent errors. Also, regular evaluation of the adherence to the policy should also be done. Memos should be given to medical members not following the policy. Strict application of the policy should be implemented to prevent lapses in the adherence to the policy.
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 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. These steps will enhance the patient's healthcare experience.
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The revised draft looks much better and more organized. Here are a few suggestions to further improve it:
1. Add an Introduction: Begin with a brief introduction to the importance of patient safety and the prevention of medication errors in healthcare institutions.
2. Use Clear Headings: Divide the content into sections with clear headings, such as "JCAHO's 'Do Not' Use Abbreviation Policy" and "ISMP's Recommendations."
3. Clarify the Purpose of Policies: Clearly explain the purpose of JCAHO's policy and ISMP's recommendations. Emphasize that they aim to prevent medication errors caused by the misuse or misinterpretation of abbreviations, symbols, and acronyms.
4. Provide Examples and Explanation: While mentioning the dangerous abbreviations, provide clear examples and explanations of how they can be misinterpreted. This will help the reader understand the potential risks involved.
5. Strengthen Explanation with Statistics: Include more specific statistics and research findings to support the claim that the use of abbreviations in medical communication leads to medication errors. Cite reputable sources for these statistics.
6. Address Implementation Challenges: Acknowledge that simply having a policy in place may not be sufficient to prevent errors. Highlight the need for an extensive written policy, proper education and information dissemination, and regular evaluation of adherence to the policy.
7. Discuss Benefits and Advantages: Clearly state the benefits and advantages of implementing these policies. Emphasize how they ensure patient safety, promote efficient communication among healthcare teams, and reduce medication errors.
8. Conclude with Future Recommendations: Conclude the document by suggesting future actions, such as continuous education and evaluation, while also emphasizing the importance of an updated written policy.
9. Include Detailed References: Provide complete references for all sources used, including the websites referenced.
By following these suggestions, your draft will become more comprehensive, well-structured, and supported by evidence.