P H A R M A G R A M    

...an educational memo from your Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

 April, 2005

Abbreviations Policy:

The Joint Commission now requires healthcare facilities to develop a list of abbreviations that can lead to medication errors and to ensure that those abbreviations are never used when ordering medications. The following list of abbreviations have been banned from use in the Medical Center and was approved by the Medical Executive Committee. 

1.      Abbreviated drug name (ex. MS, MSO4, MgSO4) – Write out the complete name (ex. Morphine)

2.      “U” for units or “IU” for international units – Write out “units” or ‘international units”

  3.  "µg” for micrograms – Use “mcg” or micrograms                   

  4. Q.D. – Use daily or q24hrs

  5.  Q.O.D. – Write out every other day or use every 48 hrs       

  6. .5 (no leading zero) – Should be 0.5

  7. 5.0 (trailing zero) – Should be 5                                               

  8. SC or SQ –Use “subq” or subcutaneous

  9. AU, AS, AD – Write out ‘both ears,’ ‘left ear,’ ‘right ear’

Use Your IDX Number and Signature for All Orders:

Each physician has been assigned their own individual IDX User Number (same as the Dictation Number), which is cross-referenced in the IDX CareCast System. This number can quickly identify the prescriber when questions arise about the order or patient care. Please use this number along with a signature when writing orders.

High Alert Medication Policy:

Those High Alert Medications that are subject to the Double Check are:

o       Heparin (IV and subcutaneous)

o       Insulin (IV and subcutaneous)

o       Opioids (ex. morphine,  (IV and subcutaneous)

o       Conversion to micrograms

o       Chemotherapy

o       Epidural infusions

Concentrated electrolytes greater than 0.9%:  double check initial set-up to include correct solutions and pump settings; review pump settings at beginning of each shift by oncoming RN. High alert medications may only be administered by licensed healthcare providers.

Drug Matrix – What Parenteral Drugs Can be Administered on Which Units:

Some drugs are restricted to certain patient care units within the hospital and this list can be found on the SFMC Intranet (http://home.sfmc.osfhealthcare.org/ ) under ‘Drug Matrix’ in Patient Care Generic Standards and Procedures.

P&T Committee Approved Autosubstitutions:

For a listing of approved Formulary substitutions, go to the Pharmacy Website listed at the bottom of this page. Patient medications which have been substituted are flagged when entered into IDX CareCast along with a message indicating the original drug ordered.

ADE (Adverse Drug Event) Hotline: 655-6805

Visit the Pharmacy Website for past issues of the PharmaGram: http://library.osfhealthcare.org/druginfo.asp