The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an ECRI company, released an updated version of its Guidelines for Safe Electronic Communication of Medication Information aimed at addressing the evolving challenges and risks associated with health information technology systems.
Initially published in 2003 and last revised in 2019, ISMP said that the streamlined and expanded guidelines provide "comprehensive strategies for presenting medication information in a safe, standardized way across electronic health records, e-prescribing platforms, pharmacy information systems, smart infusion pumps and other electronic tools used in patient care."
The guidelines include recommendations on safe drug name presentation, including guidance for expressing both generic and brand names, the use of tall man lettering to help distinguish look-alike medications, and clear and complete medication orders with guidance on presenting elements like dose, route, frequency and indication.
ISMP also recommends avoiding potentially confusing shortcuts or abbreviations for drug names.
The Institute recommends search and selection functionality be available, including drug lookup tools that reduce selection errors and ensure full display of relevant details such as dose, dosage form and route.
Additionally, the guidelines recommend the availability of patient-specific safety information, which includes recommendations for prominently and consistently displaying allergy information, patient identifiers and relevant clinical warnings across systems.
"ISMP’s electronic guidelines were first published in the early 2000s, when implementation of electronic health records, electronic prescribing and other health information technology-related tools were beginning to evolve in both inpatient and outpatient settings," Rita Jew, president of ISMP, told MobiHealthNews.
"These technologies are now a mainstay in healthcare and their use has brought about significant changes in how medications are prescribed, dispensed and administered. As health technology continues to evolve rapidly, our safety practices must also keep pace."
THE LARGER TREND
In May, ISMP built a medication error reporting program and portal for community pharmacies licensed by the California Board of Pharmacy. According to ISMP, this was the first state-mandated medication error reporting program in the nation focused specifically on community pharmacy.
The creation of the California Medication Errors Reporting Program was the result of the enactment of Assembly Bill 1286 (Haney, Chapter 470, Statutes of 2023) in 2023 to improve patient safety and address staffing and workplace conditions in community pharmacies.
The reporting program requires that California-licensed community pharmacies confidentially report errors that reach patients to an entity approved by the California Board of Pharmacy.
In March, Ochsner Children's Hospital and ISMP announced a shared fellowship focusing on medication safety. The aim was to educate pharmacists on preventing medication errors to improve patient safety and outcomes.
Other companies in the e-prescribing space include DoseSpot, which in February launched DoseSpot Connect, a product suite designed to give patients access to pharmacies offering their prescribed medication at the lowest cost.
The tool also informs patients if there is a more affordable way to obtain their medication without insurance.
