Fatal errors from misunderstood abbreviations and statistics

[Alnitak7]

I have just unearthed the "Do Not Use" list of Abbreviations from ISMP.

http://www.ismp.org/tools/errorproneabbreviations.pdf

There seems to be a lot of generalized information on the web but no statistics for this year and no statistics available for the state where I live.

They talk in generalities about how many thousand errors are reported each year due to medical abbreviations but they show no statistics to prove that this list is actually reducing errors.

Does anyone here know a place where I can get statistics this for this year and last year?

I'm hoping to prove that there is a significant decrease in medical errors because everyone obeys the rules of this list. I want numbers to prove it and a reliable source of information.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I don't know where you can get statistics from, but I gotta say, best thing on this list hands down is "OJ". "Drugs meant to be diluted in orange juice may be given in the eye." I know I frequently get confused after mixing MiraLAX in OJ as to whether I am to have the patient drink it or give it in the eye.

[workingharder]

This is taking a tangent from the topic at hand but, it's not abbreviations that bother me so much as doctor's hand writing. If they want their signature to look like something a four-year-old created with an Etch-a-Sketch, than fine. But, for a med order I would like a clear and readable statement.

If I need a degree in handwriting analysis for this job than they need to pay me more.

Now, there's a thought. CEUs for handwriting analysis.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I don't know where you can get statistics from, but I gotta say, best thing on this list hands down is "OJ". "Drugs meant to be diluted in orange juice may be given in the eye." I know I frequently get confused after mixing MiraLAX in OJ as to whether I am to have the patient drink it or give it in the eye.

Well, it would make their eyes more regular