Epinephrine shortage could lead to med errors
In June 2010, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) issued a national alert for serious medication errors (NAN). The alert warned health care practitioners about dangerous medication errors that could be caused by a shortage of epinephrine pre-filled syringes.
ASHP and ISMP prepared the alert as a caution to health care organizations and practitioners. One hospital patient in Maine died in June from an overdose of epinephrine, but the underlying cause of the death was unknown.
The alert discusses the dangers of the drug shortage and includes recommendations to prevent medication errors that could result from the shortage.
ASHP and ISMP say they developed the NAN for physicians, pharmacists, and nurses to help bring an end to deadly medication errors.
The organizations issue alerts only when there exists a significant risk for serious or fatal errors, which is detected through ISMP's Medication Error Reporting Program (MERP) and the alert is distributed by the National Council on Medication Error Reporting and Prevention.
ISMP and FDA spell out the drug with Tall Man Letters as EPINEPHrine.
In June 2010, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) issued a national alert for serious medication errors (NAN).You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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