According to this study, the North Dakota Telepharmacy Project frequently identifies and resolves medication issues at 17 critical access hospitals. Telepharmacies are increasingly proving to be effective at providing medication safety for rural hospitals.

Medication error rates at community pharmacies (with pharmacists on-site) were similar to rates at remote telepharmacies (which are staffed by pharmacy technicians with remote pharmacist oversight). However, remote telepharmacies reported more near misses.

This study reported a lower overall medication error rate for telepharmacy sites compared with traditional pharmacies.

Incident reporting systems are ubiquitous in hospitals and one of the primary methods for capturing potential quality and safety issues. Physicians traditionally underutilize incident reporting systems, and in teaching institutions, the ability to engage trainees in reporting is particularly challenging. This study developed a financial incentive (i.e., retirement benefit of 1.5% of resident salary) and a multifaceted educational campaign to promote resident reporting of adverse events. Following implementation, there was a 5.6-fold increase in resident reporting with a 21% increase in near miss reports. A past AHRQ WebM&M commentary discussed the importance of reporting and creating a safe environment to encourage it.

Although shifting from paper-based or verbal orders to computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems could reduce medical errors, a mere 8% of hospitals use the system and fewer implement it effectively, according to the Leapfrog Group CPOE evaluation tool.

… Annals of surgery … Ann Surg … The analysts reviewed 30 randomized controlled …