Patient Safety and Quality Assurance

This course provides an in-depth exploration of high-alert and look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications, focusing on the critical strategies for preventing medication errors. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of error prevention techniques, including the implementation of Tall Man lettering, separation of inventory, and the appropriate use of leading and trailing zeros. The course emphasizes the importance of barcoding and limiting error-prone abbreviations to enhance medication safety. Moreover, the curriculum addresses various issues that necessitate pharmacist intervention, such as conducting drug utilization reviews, managing adverse drug events, providing over-the-counter recommendations, and evaluating therapeutic substitutions. Participants will learn to identify and address concerns related to medication misuse, adherence, post-immunization follow-ups, allergies, and potential drug interactions. Additionally, the course covers essential event reporting procedures, guiding participants through the processes for documenting medication errors, adverse effects, and product integrity concerns. Participants will explore tools such as MedWatch, near miss reporting, and root-cause analysis to enhance their understanding of medication incident management. The course also delves into common types of prescription errors, such as administering abnormal doses, managing early refills, addressing incorrect quantities, and ensuring prescriptions are directed to the correct patients and involve the right drugs. Finally, a critical component of the course is hygiene and cleaning standards, including best practices for handwashing, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and maintaining cleanliness of counting trays, countertops, and equipment to ensure a safe medication preparation environment.