1. Pediatric medication safety considerations for pharmacists in an adult hospital setting.
- Author
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Kennedy AR and Massey LR
- Subjects
- Adult, Age Factors, Child, Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems organization & administration, Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems standards, Drug Compounding standards, Drug Dosage Calculations, Education, Pharmacy, Education, Pharmacy, Continuing, Humans, Medical Order Entry Systems organization & administration, Medical Order Entry Systems standards, Medication Therapy Management standards, Pharmacists standards, Pharmacy Service, Hospital standards, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Professional Role, Medication Errors prevention & control, Medication Therapy Management organization & administration, Pharmacists organization & administration, Pharmacy Service, Hospital organization & administration, Safety Management standards
- Abstract
Purpose: Risks and vulnerabilities of the medication-use process in nonpediatric institutions that also serve pediatric patients are reviewed, and guidance on risk mitigation strategies is provided., Summary: There are many risks and vulnerabilities in the medication-use process as it relates to pharmacotherapy for pediatric patients admitted to adult institutions. Mitigation of these risks is critical and should encompass various available resources and strategies. Special emphasis should be placed on use of technology to improve overall safety. Available literature recommends optimization of technology and resource use, institutional support for pediatric pharmacists' involvement in managing pediatric medication use, and provision of early exposure to pediatric patients in pharmacist training programs as additional methods of mitigating risks associated with pediatric medication use in adult institutions. Adult hospitals that provide care for pediatric patients should assess their processes in order to identify hospital-specific interventions to promote pediatric medication safety., Conclusion: Pediatric medication safety frameworks in U.S. adult institutions vary widely. Treating pediatric patients involves risks in all areas of the medication-use process. Optimizing technology, utilizing external resources, supporting a pediatric pharmacist, and providing early-career exposure to pediatric patients are methods to mitigate risks in institutions that primarily serve adult patients., (© American Society of Health-System Pharmacists 2019. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)
- Published
- 2019
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