ISMP Survey on High-Alert Medications

2007 ISMP Survey on High-Alert Medications

Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey on high-alert medications (see definition below), and submit your responses by April 13, 2007. High-alert medications are those that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error. Although errors may or may not be more common with these medications, their consequences are often more devastating.

For Section A, indicate whether YOU believe these drugs or class of drugs should be considered high-alert medications. For Section B, indicate whether YOUR PRACTICE SITE considers each drug or class of drugs a high-alert medication, with special precautions in place when using them. Under “Others,” please include medications not on the list that you would consider a high-alert medication.

Medication or Class of Medications	Section A Do YOU believe this is a high-alert medication?		Section B Does YOUR PRACTICE SITE consider this a high-alert medication with special precautions in place?		Comments
A. Current List	Yes	No	Yes	No
1. Adrenergic agonists, IV (e.g., epinephrine)
2. Adrenergic antagonists, IV (e.g., propranolol)
3. Anesthetic agents, general, inhaled and IV (e.g., propofol)
4. Cardioplegic solutions
5. Chemotherapeutic agents, parenteral
6. Chemotherapeutic agents, oral
7. Dextrose, hypertonic, 20% or greater
8. Dialysis solutions, peritoneal and hemodialysis
9. Epidural or intrathecal medications
10. Glycoprotein IIb, IIIa inhibitors (e,g, eptifibatide)
11. Hypoglycemics, oral
12. Inotropic medications, IV (e.g., digoxin, milrinone)
13. Liposomal forms of drugs (e.g., liposomal amphotericin B)
14. Moderate sedation agents, IV (e.g., midazolam)
15. Moderate sedation agents, oral, for children (e.g., midazolam, chloral hydrate)
16. Narcotics and opiates, IV, transdermal, transmucosal, oral (including liquid concentrates, immediate/sustained release)
17. Neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g., succinylcholine)
18. Radiocontrast agents, IV
19. Thrombolytics/fibrinolytics (e.g., tenecteplase)
20. Total parenteral nutrition solutions
21. IV amiodarone
22. Colchicine injection
23. Heparin, low molecular weight, injection
24. Heparin, unfractionated, IV
25. Insulin, subcutaneous
26. Insulin, IV
27. Lidocaine, IV
28. Magnesium sulfate injection
29. Methotrexate, oral, non-oncologic use
30. Nitroprusside, sodium, injection
31. Potassium chloride for injection
32. Potassium phosphates injection
33. Sodium chloride injection, hypertonic, more than 0.9% concentration
34. Warfarin
B. New drugs/products to consider
1. epoprostenol (FLOLAN)
2. promethazine injection, IV
3. oxytocin
4. others: please list

Choose the option that best describes your professional designation:

Medication or Class of Medications

Section A

Section B

Comments