An investigational drug is a chemical or biological substance that has been tested in the laboratory and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for testing in people during clinical trials. Investigational drugs can include both prescription and nonprescription medications, but some...
Resource Library
Whether you have experienced a medication error in your organization or you are proactively implementing prevention strategies, you are not alone. Thousands of organizations worldwide have relied on ISMP's resources for institutional change to reduce errors on a daily basis. These resources are developed from ISMP's review of reports through its national error reporting programs, peer-reviewed articles in its publications, and/or consensus gathering summits on topics pertinent to specific errors or hazards. ISMP offers a wide range of downloadable and easy to use resources. Many are free.
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In two recent surveys on smart infusion pump (smart pump) usage in the US, more than 1,000 nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals provided ISMP with a unique glimpse into the successes, safety concerns, and barriers with the optimization of smart pumps. Most respondents reported...
Problem: Increasingly, ISMP has been receiving complaints and reports of errors, some serious, about prefilled compounded syringes that look alike. Drug shortages may be worsening the situation, as hospitals may be relying more on compounders they have not previously used to fulfill their needs. The...
Surgical fires that ignite in or around patients can have devastating consequences, particularly if oxygen sources are present during head, face, neck, or upper chest surgeries. 1 There are an estimated 200-240 surgical fires each year in the US, occurring in operating rooms or during procedures in...
Problem: Nebulization of inhaled medications provides an excellent delivery route for the treatment of both pulmonary and nonpulmonary conditions. The mist is easily inhaled by breathing normally, without requiring coordinated breaths to inhale the medication (as required with metered dose inhalers)...
Hyperkalemia is a serious, potentially lethal electrolyte disturbance that requires medical treatment without delay if it is severe enough to cause disturbances in cardiac conduction. Although hyperkalemia treatment guidelines in the literature vary, 1 many organizations begin treatment with the...
The latest issue of ISMP’s QuarterWatch™ (see box at end of article) compares the markedly different safety profiles of the five leading pharmaceutical approaches to contraception: Combination oral contraceptive pills , which combine ethinyl estradiol with a chemical variant of progesterone, and...
An exhaustive account of frustrations, difficulties, misspent resources, and safety concerns came across loud and clear from respondents who participated in our August through October 2017 national survey on drug shortages. 1 Most respondents to the survey confirmed that drug shortages during the 6...
ISMP celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Cheers Awards at B.B. King's Blues Club in Orlando, FL on December 5, 2017.