Perry Hospital Wins Statewide Award for Medication Safety
The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) presented its prestigious Patient Quality and Safety Award to Perry Hospital for its project that reduced after-hours entries into the hospital pharmacy. The hospitals project titled, "Eliminating Access to Pharmacy after Hours: A Patient Safety Accomplishment" won third place in the less than 100 beds category. These annual awards recognize Georgia health care organizations for achievement in reducing the risk of medical errors and improving patient safety and medical outcomes.
At times it is necessary for nurses to enter the pharmacy after-hours if they need medications that are kept in the pharmacy. However, the Perry Hospital staff, over concerns of increased likelihood of medication errors, decided to limit and/or eliminate after-hours entries into the pharmacy. They also wanted to be in compliance with The Joint Commission standard of MM.4.50, which requires safeguards to be in place when non-pharmacist healthcare professionals are allowed by law or regulation to obtain medications after-hours when the hospital pharmacy is closed.
By educating the medical staff and nursing staff along with reevaluating which medications could be kept within the secured Pyxis medication distribution system instead of the pharmacy, Perry Hospital was able to meet its goal. The hospital also expanded pharmacy hours and utilized 24-hour pharmacy coverage with its sister hospital, Houston Medical Center. Since September 2006, there have been no after-hours entries into the pharmacy. The pharmacy continues to evaluate medications located outside the pharmacy and make changes as needed; also, the pharmacist remains on-call should there be a need for medications locked in the pharmacy.
"Providing high quality health care in a safe environment is the goal of every hospital," said Georgia Hospital Association President Joseph Parker. "We applaud Perry Hospital for its leadership and dedication to providing the best and safest care possible for Georgia."
About PHA
The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) was established in January 2000 to improve patient care and patient safety in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and create healthy communities.
About GHA
Established in 1929, GHA is the states largest trade organization of hospitals and health systems providing education, research and risk management services to its more than 170 hospitals and health system members. Additionally, it represents and advocates health policy issues benefiting Georgias citizens before the state legislature and U.S. Congress as well as before regulatory bodies.