IT, Best Practices Reduce Medication Errors, Study Finds

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

IT, Best Practices Reduce Medication Errors, Study Finds

Medication administration errors were reduced by 56.8% and the accuracy of medication administration increased to 93% during an 18-month demonstration project at the University of California-San Francisco, Healthcare IT News reports.

The demonstration project, developed by the Integrated Nurse Leadership Program, trained front-line clinicians and nurses to lead the development of clinical protocols, reporting tools, metrics and administrative procedures.

The study also reported a 78.5% reduction in procedural errors.

The gains made during the demonstration project were achieved through adherence to a set of six best practice procedures for medication administration from the California Nursing Outcomes Coalition, Healthcare IT News reports.

Program officials said the study is the first to validate a specific set of best practices for medication administration.

The demonstration project was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 3/28).