Medication Safety Symposium Presented By The Joint Commission And Joint Commission Resources

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Litigation / Medical Malpractice;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Medication errors in the health care environment can occur anytime there is a communication breakdown, but they are preventable if everyone on the patient care team learns to work together. To address this issue The Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources (JCR) are hosting a Medication Safety Symposium: Teaming up for Medication Management and Systems Improvement, August 5-7, 2008, in Chicago, Ill. JCR is a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission.

The symposium will focus on the tools that a health care team needs to succeed in the struggle against medication errors. It will benefit anyone involved in the six processes of medication management, including selection and procurement, storage, ordering and transcribing, preparing and dispensing, administration, and monitoring. In particular, it is intended for those responsible for medication safety in their organizations including pharmacists, nurses, physicians, patient safety officers, and risk management professionals.

Participants will learn firsthand about the issues that lead to medication errors and share the latest strategies to circumvent or eliminate these issues. They will also learn proven approaches from experienced practitioners who are effectively managing medication safety in their own organizations.

The agenda includes tracks for ambulatory, in-patient organizations, technology and pediatrics. Specialty sessions are offered for oncology and emergency departments. The plenary sessions include: "Using Data to Drive Decision Making;" "Patient Literacy and Medication Safety;" and "The Role of the FDA and Watchdog Agencies in Medication Safety."

Attendees will receive a CD-ROM filled with tools to guide them in transforming their organizations' medication safety practices after the symposium. The tools address processes and policies, high-alert medications, adverse drug events, front line leadership, pharmacists in the emergency department, anticoagulants, and medication reconciliation. To view the entire list of tools please click here.

Continuing education credits are available for participation in this symposium. The applicable hours are as follows: ACCME: 17; ANCC: 17; ACHE: 17; California Board of Registered Nursing: 17. Full attendance at every session is a prerequisite for receiving full continuing education credits.

The symposium is $995 per registrant. The early bird fee is $895 per registrant and expires 30 days before the program. A team discount for groups of three or more is $795 per registrant. When registering for the symposium use program code 08075.

For more information on this symposium or to register, call JCR Customer Service toll-free at 877.223.6866, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT, weekdays, visit http://www.jcrinc.com.

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including more than 8,000 hospitals and home care organizations, and more than 6,300 other health care organizations that provide long term care, assisted living, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services. The Joint Commission also accredits health plans, integrated delivery networks, and other managed care entities. In addition, The Joint Commission provides certification of disease-specific care programs, primary stroke centers, and health care staffing services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.

Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission, has been designated by The Joint Commission to publish publications and multimedia products. JCR reproduces and distributes these materials under license from The Joint Commission. JCR educational programs and publications support the accreditation activities of The Joint Commission, but are separate functions. Attendees at JCR educational programs and purchasers of JCR publications receive no special consideration or treatment in, or confidential information about, the accreditation process. Learn more about Joint Commission Resources at http://www.jcrinc.com.

Joint Commission Resources, Inc.