OCTOBER 2024
EDITION 35
Medication Safety Week 28 October – 1 November 2024
Accurately recording a patient’s weight is essential for calculating medication dosages, assessing the appropriateness of high-risk medications, and monitoring fluid balance and nutritional status. To highlight the importance, all inpatient wards across NSLHD are invited to participate in a competition during Medication Safety Week that involves measuring and documenting accurate patient weight. The ward with the highest rate of accurate patient weight documentation from each hospital will win a morning tea or equipment sponsored by the NSLHD Clinical Governance Unit. Winners will be announced in early November. To participate, ward teams should: Discuss the importance of documenting accurate weights in team meetings or huddles Ensure an accurate and updated weight is documented for each patient, where possible Escalate any issues related to obtaining an accurate weight, along with their clinical implications, to the clinical team, team leader, or manager Patient weight documentation - ward competition
Learn to win Complete any of these medication safety specific e-learning modules on My Health Learning before 15 November to win a prize. Complete all to increase your chances! Safe Use of High-Risk Medicines Safe Use of Hydromorphone Safe Use of Anticoagulants Safe Use of Opioids Safe Use of Insulin: Challenge Safe Use of Benzodiazepines in the Older Person Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management More prizes up for grabs during Medication Safety Week! Visit the medication safety stalls Participate in online quizzes Join in the panel discussions on MS teams
Australia's response to WHO Global Patient Safety Challenge – Medication without harm
Since 2020 Australia has made significant progress towards reducing medication errors and adverse drug events. Key findings according to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care include: 11 per cent reduction in dispensing rates of antipsychotic medications for people aged 65 years and over between 2016–17 and 2020–21. 10 per cent decrease in the rate of hospitalisations for insulin-related adverse events and poisonings since the peak in 2021-22, even as diabetes continues to rise. 37 per cent decrease in unintentional drug-induced deaths involving opioids since 2018, due to regulation of access and the implementation of real-time prescription monitoring. As an Organisation, we can continue to work together to improve patient safety and mitigate medication- related harm. Visit the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website to learn more.
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