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Christine Koczmara

Publications and source records attributed to Christine Koczmara.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Implementing system safeguards to prevent error-induced injury with opioids (narcotics): an ISMP Canada collaborative.

Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada (ISMP Canada) is involved in collaborative initiatives focusing on opioid safety in two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Alberta. Baseline survey responses from these provinces indicate opportunities for improvements to the opioid system that might be applicable nationally. Information about the Ontario project and preliminary analysis of follow-up survey results from that province are shared here, to increase awareness and create further national impetus for the enhancement of safeguards in the use and management of opioids.

Alberta↗
PubMed2006

Communication of medication orders by telephone--"writing it right".

Communication is commonly cited as a contributing factor to adverse events causing patient harm (Baker et al., 2004). There are numerous ways and reasons that communication failures can occur, such as poor handwriting, transcription errors, lack of verification, lack of integration of information, and ineffective team functioning. Errors that can occur in critical care with the verbal communication and receipt of a telephone order will be highlighted. These examples, together with proposed strategies for improving telephone order safety, are intended to promote awareness and potential practice changes in the critical care environment.

Abbreviations as Topic↗
PubMed2006

To err is human, to share is divine.

Front-line health care practitioners are often safety nets preventing errors from reaching patients. Nurses in critical care environments commonly deal with high-risk patients, high-alert medications and extreme conditions, placing themselves and medication systems under greater pressures. Human error cannot be eradicated. However, the systems in which practitioners work and interact can be made safer and more fault-tolerant. When errors occur, nurses are in a unique position to provide valuable insights. Practitioner reporting and sharing of incident information internally and externally can enhance patient safety by helping to prevent recurrence of similar events.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗