Regional Medication Safety Program for Hospitals

The Regional Medication Safety Program for Hospitals (RMSPH) is an innovative program launched by the Health Care Improvement Foundation (HCIF), an affiliate of the Delaware Valley Healthcare council (DVHC), aimed at increasing medication safety at all of the hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia area. To create his Program, HCIF has partnered with ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). This unique partnership results in an exceptional combination of access, leadership, knowledge, experience and technical assistance.

The program was designed to enhance the quality of care provided to patients in DVHC member hospitals through the systematic implementation of attainable medication safety goals or "Action Goals" under a strategic and cohesive program. RMSPH developed various tools to assist hospitals in achieving these Action Goals.

You can find more information about the Regional Medication Safety Program for Hospitals in the December 26, 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Vol. 286 #24, pages 3067-3069 or contact Matt Fricker, MS, RPh at ISMP, 215-947-7797.

RMSPH now offers its tools to you in a Medications Safety Solutions Kit. The kit includes:

• A Medication Safety Binder: A "how-to" manual for achieving RMSPH's 16 Action Goals that are categorized by the areas of culture, infrastructure, practices and technology. The binder discusses the critical issues related to each of the goals, identifies specific objectives for each goal and explains how hospitals can achieve these objectives. It also provides a rollout plan for the Safe Practices Campaign posters.
• Computerized Prescriber Order-Entry Systems - A Practical Guide: Detailed planning guidance and acquisition tools, including comparison charts of available systems, a request-for-proposal template and a proposal analysis matrix.
• The Safe Practices Campaign Poster Series: A medication Safety Theme poster and nine Safe Practices posters that reinforce key concepts of the Action Goals. The attractively designed posters are printed in brilliant color on quality poster stock with a laminate finish.

For ordering information please go to: www.ecri.org/medicationsafety