Medication Safety Evidence Briefings

Medication errors remain one of the largest causes of harm in hospitals. Hospitals manage medication safety through a variety of interventions, such as managing interruptions during medication administration, double-checking processes and the implementation of information technology. In this project, a series of literature reviews were conducted on key interventions to improve medication safety in hospitals.

Background and aims
This project was commissioned by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission). The commission promotes, supports and encourages the implementation of safety and quality initiatives in Australia. The aim of this project was to prepare Evidence Briefings on six key medication safety interventions in hospitals:

1. Electronic prescribing systems
2. Electronic medication administration records
3. Scanning medication administration systems
4. Closed-loop medication management systems
5. Double-checking medication administration
6. Reducing interruptions during medication prescribing, preparation and administration

Literature reviews were conducted and the evidence on each of the interventions summarised for the Australian context.