This week’s Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) special edition of the ISMP Medication Safety Alert!® acute care newsletter provides tips for safe and efficient use of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs), including during the rapid expansion of auxiliary patient care units, satellite locations, and field hospitals to address the pandemic. It also highlights the need for standardizing critical care drug infusions and reports on several recent errors with norepinephrine infusions administered to COVID-19 patients.
The cover article offers suggestions from ADC vendors on accessing cabinets, enhancing security, and minimizing exposure and contamination. The fourth special edition also includes insight and tips on:
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IV push for antibiotics to conserve pumps and administration sets
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USP and FDA support for drug compounders
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Increased risk of poisonings now that children are home around the clock
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Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and medication safety
During the pandemic, healthcare workers are facing unimaginable anxiety and stress—ISMP invites practitioners to share their stories of support and how they and their communities are rising to the challenge. Emails about what those on the frontlines are doing to stay strong or the help they are receiving to bolster them during this difficult time can be sent to: [email protected].
The special edition newsletters are being made available for free to the general public as well as subscribers. To access a copy, click here. Please note that access may require free registration.