Medication Errors Receives Acclaim - New England Journal Of Medicine Highlights Book, Cohen

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Public Health
Article Date: 11 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The expanded edition of Medication Errors by Michael R. Cohen, RPh, MS, ScD has received critical acclaim in the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The second edition, published by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), is widely believed to provide the most comprehensive, authoritative print examination of the causes of medication errors and strategies to prevent them.

Cohen, who edited the book and wrote several of the book's 23 chapters currently serves as President of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and was a recipient of a 2005 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant."

The book also features contributions from 30 experts in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and risk management, including such well-known scholars such as David Bates, MD, Lucian Leape, MD, and J.W. Senders, PhD, all noted for their expertise on medication errors and patient safety issues. Medication Errors offers insights into the cause of the problems including drug names, packaging and labeling, as well as error-prone abbreviations and dose expressions; while analyzing prescribing, dispensing, and drug administration errors, including errors related to drug-delivery devices are also highlighted in the publication.

"Medication errors continue to be one of the important issues addressed by the healthcare community today," said Cohen. "It is important that physicians, pharmacists, nurses and patients continue to work together to minimize the potential of health risks associated with these types of errors. Communication and cooperation are often the best weapons."

The hardbound edition of Medication Errors (ISBN 9781582120928; 680 pages; $89.95 [$80.95 for APhA members]) may be ordered online. For more information on Medication Errors and other APhA books, visit: http://www.pharmacist.com.

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 60,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.

http://www.aphanet.org