ASHP: 15 hospitals to work on insulin pen safety

Fifteen hospitals have been selected to participate in a quality improvement program that focuses on insulin pen safety in their practice settings, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

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The initiative, developed by a committee of pharmacists who are experts in glycemic control and medication safety, will evaluate the hospitals’ use of insulin pens and will recommend specific strategies to help promote the safe use of these devices.

ASHP noted in a prepared statement that: “it is often challenging for healthcare providers to pinpoint the potential safety risks and implement process improvements,” even though these professionals are aware of the high-risks associated with inappropriate use of insulin pens.

The participating hospitals include Ashtabula County Medical Center, Ashtabula, Ohio; CHI Health Bergan Mercy, Omaha, NE; Community Medical Center, Missoula, MT; CVPH Medical Center, Plattsburgh, NY; Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Morristown, NJ; Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, Ind.; Kosair Children’s Hospital, Louisville, KY; Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA; Mercy Hospital Joplin; Joplin, MO; Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, MI; Oschsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA; Our Lady of Fatima Hospital., North Providence, RI; ProMedica Bay Park Hospital, Oregon, Ohio; St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, Savannah, GA; and UF Health, Shands Hospital, Gainesville, FL.

For more information about ASHP’s Mentored Quality Improvement Impact Program for Insulin Pen Safety, which is supported by an education grant from Novo Nordisk, go to www.onepenonepatient.org.