In Pursuit of a Patient-Centered VA Prescription Label

By Erin Y. N. Narus, PharmD, RPh; and Joe D. Youngblood, RPh

The patient-centered prescription label movement has roots in primary research studies by notable health literacy proponents (Davis et al., 2006; Davis et al., 2008; Shrank et al., 2007; Sharnk, Avorn et al., 2007). This foundational work paved the way for setting standards for prescription label formats, content, lexicon, and numeracy interpretation.

Medication Safety

The “Other” Healthcare Reform Movement

By Susan Stinson, RN, FACHE

While most mainstream media coverage in recent months has framed discussions of healthcare reform around issues of access and cost management, there is an equally critical type of healthcare reform evolving within hospitals that impacts nearly every patient—improving medication safety.

ISMP

Measuring Up to Medication Safety

By the Institute for Safe Medication Practices

Medications are among the most common interventions used to improve health. So it should come as no surprise that adverse drug events—injuries caused by the use of medications—are a substantial source of preventable harm to hospitalized patients. Measuring the level of safety is fundamental to improvement.