Taking Aim at Infusion Confusion

A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach was used to improve drug infusion safety in an acute care hospital in Melbourne, Australia. This project aimed to reduce the potential for drug infusion-related error, improve drug infusion safety for patients, and encourage incident reporting to inform and guide continuous quality improvement projects. The project applied a systems approach to medication safety, using redesign strategies such as continuous quality improvement (plan, do, study, and act) and reengineering. Key safety design concepts such as standardization, simplification, and forcing functions were also used. © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.