Who does this involve?

All staff that complete a medication related Safety Event and all data entry staff.

Patient Safety is assisting Pharmacy with spreading education to identify “Do Not Use Abbreviations” in order to help meet a Required Organization Practice (ROP).

Medication safety incidents related to misinterpreted abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations are required to be reported as a Safety Event in order to inform the Pharmacy team to make ongoing updates to the do-not-use list and associated safety practices.

To capture the Do Not Use Abbreviations information

Staff completing the Safety Event Report form:

• Complete Part 3 Medication/Therapeutic & Diagnostic:
  • Category of Occurrence
  • Type
  • Contributing Factors (you can choose more than one but please write in blank spot on the form “Do Not Use Abbreviations” see example)

Data entry staff enter into the database:

• Under Contributing Factors find the “Other Specification” field and type in “Do Not Use Abbreviations” (see screenshot below) (other contributing factors may be checked off as well)

More information about Do Not Use Abbreviations is available in the Safe Medication Administration – Acute Care Policy and the DO NOT USE: Dangerous Abbreviations, Symbols, Dose Designations Dangerous Abbreviations, Symbols, Dose Designations supporting document.

If you have any questions about the Do Not Use Abbreviations ROP, Policy or Supporting Document, please contact Rizwan Ahmed or Cécile Dumesnil .

Submitted by: Quality, Planning & Performance