From the June 2006 issue

A number of medications bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error. We call these drugs “high-alert medications” to draw attention to this characteristic so that everyone involved in their use will implement additional safeguards when prescribing, dispensing, and administering them. While errors are not necessarily more common with these drugs, the consequences of their errors may be devastating.

In order to develop a list for community/ambulatory practitioners, we would appreciate your input by completing the short survey on page 5. Based on the survey results, data from the ISMP Medication Errors Reporting Program, and input from medication safety experts, we will compile a list of high-alert medications for community/ambulatory practice. Please submit your responses by July 30, 2006 at www.ismp.org/survey/newsletter/comsurvey200606.asp (or by faxing to 215-914-1492 if Internet access is unavailable). For ISMP’s list of high-alert medications in the acute care setting go to www.ismp.org/Tools/highalertmedications.pdf.