High-Alert Medications: Strategies for Improving Safety

Proper management of high-alert medications is more crucial than ever. This new book provides an in-depth, easy-to-understand analysis of how an organization can reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with anticoagulants, insulin, and other high-risk drugs. A key part of the book focuses on strategies and process designs organizations can employ to improve high-alert medication safety. Additional topics covered in the book include: reasons and benefits of using both high-alert medications and high-alert processes (opiates, sedatives, narcotics, chemotherapy, compounded sterile products, pediatric medications); potential side effects and interactions of high-risk medications; compliance issues and safety precautions; and important components of a medication system: selection, procurement, storage, ordering, dispensing, administering, and monitoring.