Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority Receives Prestigious Cheers Award

The Authority is honored for its educational efforts in preventing medication errors and adverse drug events

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority has received a Cheers Award from the Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) for its educational efforts in preventing medication errors and adverse drug events. An awards ceremony will take place in December in Anaheim, California.

ISMP honored six individuals, organizations and companies that have set a "superlative standard of excellence for others to follow in the prevention of medication errors and adverse drug events."

The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority serves as a model for state-run error reporting programs and using adverse event and near-miss reports to improve patient safety. In June 2004, all hospitals, ambulatory surgery facilities and birthing centers began reporting Serious Events (events that harm the patient) and Incidents or near-misses (events that do not harm the patient) to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority through the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System (PA-PSRS). Since 2006, certain abortion facilities began reporting and nursing homes began reporting healthcare-associated infections in 2007. To date, over 1.2 million reports have been submitted to the Authority. 

Since 2004, the Authority has published over 300 educational articles in its award-winning quarterly publication called the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory that is used by medical personnel worldwide for patient safety information. The Authority has also developed educational toolkits for healthcare staff, patient safety tips for consumers, regional healthcare facility collaborations and a new confidential web-based program that allows healthcare staff to discuss patient safety problems and solutions with each other. 

Since August 2007, the Authority created six regional liaison positions throughout the state to increase healthcare facilities' awareness of the educational resources available to them and to help them implement changes.

"We know from the data that it is an ongoing battle to eliminate medication errors and adverse medication events," Michael C. Doering, executive director of the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority said. However, our education arsenal has grown since the Authority began and we see progress within the healthcare facilities for change.

"There's a lot more work to do, but to be recognized to date for our efforts is a tremendous honor," Doering added.

For the complete list of the 13th Annual ISMP Cheers Award Winners, go to www.ismp.org. For more information about the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and its educational resources go to www.patientsafetyauthority.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority