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Lab Group B
Local
Selective High Alert Medications
Hospital based
Administration
Patient Verification
6 Rights
State
Arizona hospitals have implemented dual verification of hospital
based selective medications
Tucson
St. Joseph Hospital
Tucson Medical Center
Phoenix
Phoenix Childrens Hospital
Gilbert
Dignity Health Mercy Hospital
Sierra Vista
Canyon Vista Medical Center
Current Practice
National
New Zealand
Canada
United States
Malaysia
Taiwan
England
Australia
Scotland
Analysis of Current Research: Current Findings
6 studies suggest double checking reduced medication errors
1 study argues double checking is helpful for only specific medications
2 studies identify double checks to be effective, but also identify other more
effective interventions
3 studies establish that a two nurse check is effective in preventing med errors
Nurses were given a 2-week start-up period to allow nurses to become familiar with the double
checking steps while getting feedback
Gave detailed descriptions of core subprocesses, so everyone had the same understanding when
answering survey questions.
Small uni-site study: unable to determine if the interventions can be translated to other facilities
Only used meds given during the morning and afternoon, no meds given in emergency situations
All the participating hospital were located in the same state, reducing generalizability
Hawthorne effect
The availability of participants and timing of interviews caused the data saturation not to be
achieved
Limitations of All Studies
Double checking: A second look
Only looks at data from one study, and are not generalizable to a variety of contexts
Has a weak evidence base from just one study
Some nurses may not have followed the intervention protocol fully or failed to record observed
errors.
Specific steps of double checking procedures in specific units may not have been taken into
account
Relatively low response rate (112 questionnaires and only 48 were returned)
Study occurred at a critical time when the hospital was implementing many changes
Evidence Based Nursing Recommendations
4/7/17 - Begin to provide education to the hospital staff (mandatory paid learning
clinics); begin creating double-check sign/override system in charting
4/28/17 - All training complete; all nurses have signed double-checking contracts;
double-check sign/override system complete
5/7/17, 5/14/17, 5/21/17, 5/28/17 - Weekly monitoring of new policy and charting system
changes
$34.14/hour
Risk:
Inconsistent
expectation for what
constitutes a double
check
Benefit:
Implement Checks
Computerized Checks
Environment
Education
1. Medication double checks were successfully
implemented resulting in a reduction of the number
of medication errors that resulted in harm by 90%
in the first year of implementation.
2. Mandatory computerized double checks were
successfully integrated into medication
administration resulting in an increase of
compliance using hospital specific double checking
policy for each incidence of administration of high
acuity medication.
3. Medication preparation for administration was
conducted in specially allocated medication rooms
to maintain an environment that is safe, quiet,
private and organized resulting in a reduction of
medication errors immediately upon designation of
this environment.
4. Medication Double checking was successfully
defined and standardized in facility wide education
or training session causing an increase in
compliance and correct use of policy and a
reduction of medication errors upon completion of
all required education or training.
In summary..
6. Comparison of medication safety systems in critical access hospitals: Combined analysis of two studies
8. Medication Errors in Labor and Delivery: Reducing Maternal and Fetal Harm
9. Reducing the risk of harm from intravenous potassium: a multi-factorial approach in the hematology
setting
References
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Barras, M., Moore, D., Sweedman, M., Wilkinson, C., Taylor, K., Morton, J. (2013). Reducing the risk of harm from intravenous
potassium: a multi-factorial approach in the haematology setting. Journal of oncology pharmacy practice, 20. Doi:
10.1177/1078155213504443
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016, March 30). Occupational Employment Statistics. Retrieved from
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
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us
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McDaniels, A.K. (2016, September 22). UMMS must pay family $10 million in malpractice suit. Retrieved from
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Modic, M.B., Albert, N.M., Sun, Z., Bena, J.F., Yager, C., Cary, T., Corniello, A., Kaser, N., Simon, J., Skowronsky, C.,
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file:///C:/Users/Grace/Downloads/NPP_Medication_Error.pdf
Pa Patient Saf Advis (2009). Medication Errors in Labor and Delivery: Reducing Maternal and Fetal Harm. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://patientsafetyauthority.org/ADVISORIES/AdvisoryLibrary/2009/dec16_6(suppl1)/Pages/01.aspx
Schwappach, D. L., Pfeiffer, Y., & Taxis, K. (2016). Medication double-checking procedures in clinical practice: a cross-sectional
survey of oncology nurses' experiences. BMJ Open, 6(6). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011394
Secker, D. (2017, March 29). Phone interview. [Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Hospital]
Yodice, J. (2017, March 29). Phone interview. [Tucson Medical Center Hospital]