Drug Topics - November 12, 2007 - (Page 5)

5 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES The following periodicals are available from Advanstar Life Sciences OB/GYN UROLOGY ® CONTEMPORARY CONTEMPORARY RN your pharmacy. Devise a system to make everyone aware when the prescription involves one of these drugs. This can be done in several ways: •The person first receiving a new prescription is taught to recognize drugs on the list, and places a gold star sticker on the prescription; •The computer is programmed to give an alert when one of these drugs, such as warfarin, is entered. The person at the computer then marks the prescription in a way to signal to each other person working on it that a “special” drug is involved; •The shelf is marked where each of these special drugs is located, alerting the one pulling the drug to use the special techniques for this prescription; •A list of “special” drugs is posted in the prescription area; or •All of the above When staff members are alerted to the presence of a special drug, they are trained to say to themselves or aloud, “Take 5.” Then, no matter how busy they are, they take an extra five seconds to clear the mind and check one more time, with heightened alertness, knowing that “this is one of the drugs on the special list.” Be warned, however, that if too many drugs are on the list and too much of the shelf is marked, the check will cease to be special. Look around your pharmacy. What drugs tend to cause special problems? Which drugs are the most likely to cause harm if a mistake is made? Try it—it is simple and it works. THE AUTHOR ® 2007 ® • For a Subscription to any Advanstar Life Sciences publication • Questions or changes regarding current subscriptions • Sample issues of any Advanstar Life Sciences publication • Or any further information, please contact Customer Service Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm CST Tel. 877 922-2022 Fax 218 740 6417 Email: fulfill@superfill.com or write to: Advanstar Life Sciences 131 West First St., Duluth, MN 55802 is a pharmacist and a lawyer who consults in areas in which he has worked for more than 30 years. He can be reached at kenbakerconsulting.com. http://kenbakerconsulting.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - November 12, 2007

Drug Topics - November 12, 2007 Contents Drugs Often Associated with Errors Wanted: More Convers to Drug Decision Tools MSRA Takeoff Raising Alarm Bells U.S. Still Volnerable to Drug Counterfeiting Strange Rx Stories: Are You Stupid? Are Students a Squandered Opportunity The Week at a Glance

Drug Topics - November 12, 2007

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