The NZ Pharmacovigilance Centre (NZPhvC) is seeking reports of medication errors associated with documented allergies or adverse drug reactions (ADRs) during August.
Serious patient harm may occur if a patient receives a medication which they have a documented allergy or adverse reaction to. NZPhyC and the Health Quality & Safety Commission (the Commission) are working together to try to get a better sense of the current safety of our medication systems in primary care.
During the month of August, we encourage reports of errors when a patient accidentally received, or almost received, a medication which they have a documented allergy or adverse reaction to. The NZPhvC invites you to submit reports (anonymously if preferred) to its Medication Error Reporting Programme (MERP) https://nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/merp/
The deadline for reports is 31 August 2016.
At the end of this time period, a multi-incident analysis will be conducted by the NZPhvC to determine common themes and system weaknesses that may contribute to this particular type of error. These aggregated findings will be shared with the Commission’s Medication Safety Expert Advisory Group to consider possible safety solutions.
For more information, or if you require assistance, please contact merpnz@otago.ac.nz.
Your comments and suggestions for improvements are also welcomed at this address.
During this targeted reporting period of August, hospital incidents should still be reported to DHB incident management systems in the usual way. The MERP is also open during this period for reports of other error types in primary care.
Practitioners are reminded they are required to report incidents of suspected adverse reactions to the Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee—this can also be done through the NZPhvC website.
