A National Study of Intravenous Medication Errors

Summary

To identify the key issues around use of computerized patient infusion devices (called "smart pumps").

To develop strategies that will improve the prevention of intravenous errors that will be broadly applicable.

The investigators will conduct a national study using the general methodology developed by Husch et al. to allow a rapid assessment of the frequency and types of medication errors at an institution.

The key questions the investigators will address are:

1. What are the frequency and types of intravenous medication errors?
2. How much variability is there by frequency and type among settings?
3. After review of the initial data, what strategies appear to have the greatest potential for reducing intravenous medication error frequency?
4. How effective is an intervention including a bundle of these strategies at multiple sites?

Conditions

• Medication Administered in Error

Interventions

OTHER

Smart pump safety Intervention bundle for improving IV medication administration process with smart pump

Smart pump safety intervention bundle includes three components--1) eliminating unauthorized medications; implement standardized discontinuation policy of medications, implement standardized keep vein open rates and keep vein open rate order sets, and implement standardized verbal order practice. 2) Implement standardized intravenous(IV) labeling and IV tubing labels. 3) Implement standardized drug library lists and drug library use policies

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johns Hopkins University

  collaborator OTHER

• Winchester Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Central DuPage Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Vanderbilt University

  collaborator OTHER

• Massachusetts General Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• University of California, San Diego

  collaborator OTHER

• Valleywise Health

  collaborator OTHER

• Danbury Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation

  collaborator OTHER

• CareFusion foundation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Candler Hospital

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Brigham and Women's Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• David W Bates, MD, MSc · Brigham and Women's Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-04-30

Primary Completion

2015-03-31

Completion

2015-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations