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USP to highlight key findings from its medication error report

Data reinforces JCAHO national patient safety goals

Subject:
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) will highlight findings from its annual report on medication errors in U.S. hospitals and health care facilities - focusing on those that parallel the National Patient Safety Goals of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Areas involved in medication errors, which also are part of JCAHO's goals, to be discussed include:

• Patient identification;
• Communication;
• High-alert medications; and
• The use of infusion pumps.

USP's report: Summary of Information Submitted to MEDMARX in the Year 2002: The Quest for Quality, is an analysis of more than 192,000 medication errors that were voluntarily reported by 482 hospitals and health systems nationwide.

Presenters:

• Diane D. Cousins, R.Ph., vice president of USP's Center for the Advancement of Patient Safety
• Paul M. Schyve, M.D., senior vice president, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (via telephone)

When:
Monday, Dec. 8, 2003
1 p.m. CST (2 p.m. EST)

Where:
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' (ASHP) Mid-Year Meeting
Press Room #242
Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, Louisiana

To Register:
Please an e-mail to: mediarelations@usp.org to participate. Those not attending the ASHP Mid-Year Meeting may participate via telephone by calling 1-800-659-1025 (password:USP). The Power Point presentation will be available at www.usp.org/newscenter.

USP-Advancing Public Health Since 1820
USP is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, standard-setting organization that advances public health by ensuring the quality and consistency of medicines, promoting the safe and proper use of medications, and verifying ingredients in dietary supplements. These standards, which are recognized worldwide, are developed by a unique process of public involvement through the contributions of volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other health care professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations. For more information about USP and its four public health programs, visit www.usp.org/newscenter.

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