[Risk prevention evaluation in the incorporation of new drugs for healthcare practices: a methodological proposal]. / Evaluación preventiva de riesgos en la incorporación de nuevos medicamentos a la práctica asistencial: una propuesta metodológica.

OBJECTIVE: Submit a preventive assessment methodology for the risk of medication errors when incorporating new drugs in clinical practice as well as a description of the types of actions arising from such action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Standard Operating Procedure was established which defines and plans the process of assessing the risks of new drugs purchased by the Pharmacy Services before being incorporated into the distribution and dispensation channels. The pharmacist responsible for each area fills the Risk Assessment Form, a questionnaire that facilitates the analysis of the product characteristics and provides guidance on safety measures to be taken depending on the results of that assessment. If it is confirmed that the drug requires some additional security measures to be taken, all professionals and technical staff of the Pharmacy Services shall be informed of measures to be taken. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2013, 64 drugs were assessed. 35 of them (54.6%) required some additional security measure to be applied before being incorporated into clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the method of preventive risk assessment for new drugs purchased by the Pharmacy Services can be a very useful tool when taking the measures deemed necessary to minimize the likelihood of a medication error occurring before they are incorporated into the distribution/dispensing channels put in place by the Pharmacy Services.

Evaluación preventiva de riesgos en la incorporación de nuevos medicamentos a la práctica asistencial: una propuesta metodológica / Risk prevention evaluation in the incorporation of new drugs for healthcare practices: a methodological proposal

Objetivo: Presentar una metodología de evaluación preventiva de riesgos de errores de medicación en la incorporación de nuevos medicamentos a la práctica asistencial, así como una descripción de las acciones derivadas de dicha actuación. Material y métodos: Se estableció un Procedimiento Normalizado de trabajo que define el proceso de evaluación de riesgos de los nuevos medicamentos adquiridos por el Servicio de Farmacia antes de ser incorpora la Ficha de Evaluación de Riesgos, cuestionario que facilita el análisis delas características del medicamento y orienta sobre las medidas de seguridad que se deben adoptar en función de los resultados. Resultados: Se evaluaron 64 medicamentos. En 35 (54,6%) se aplicó alguna medida preventiva de seguridad: incorporación a la Guía de Administración de medicamentos por sonda nasogástrica (3 fármacos), aplicación de la instrucción Técnica de cambio de concentración/presentación segura (7), incorporación al listado de medicamentos que contienen Látex (3), remisión de notas informativas a los profesionales sanitarios (12), adopción de medidas para almacenamiento seguro (6), incorporación de material educativo en los folletos informativos para pacientes externos (12), incorporación de interacciones farmacológicas a la base de datos (2), inicio de procedimiento de resolución de expediente (1) y comunicación a la AEMPS de errores potenciales por similitud de envases (2). Conclusiones: La implantación de esta evaluación preventiva de riesgos puede resultar una herramienta muy útil a la hora de tomar las medidas para minimizar la probabilidad de que se produzca un error de medicación, antes de que se incorpore a los circuitos de distribución/dispensación

Objective: Submit a preventive assessment methodology for the risk of medication errors when incorporating new drugs in clinical practice as well as a description of the types of actions arising from such action. Materials and methods: A Standard Operating Procedure was established which defines and plans the process of assessing the risks of new drugs purchased by the Pharmacy Services before being incorporated into the distribution and dispensation channels. The pharmacist responsible for each area fills the Risk Assessment Form, a questionnaire that facilitates the analysis of the product characteristics and provides guidance on safety measures to be taken depending on the results of that assessment. If it is confirmed that the drug requires some additional security measures to be taken, all professionals and technical staff of the Pharmacy Services shall be informed of measures to be taken. Results: Between 2011 and 2013, 64 drugs were assessed. 35of them (54.6%) required some additional security measure t be applied before being incorporated into clinical practice. Conclusions: The implementation of the method of preventive risk assessment for new drugs purchased by the Pharmacy Services before being incorporated into the distribution and dispensationchannels. The pharmacist responsible for each area fills the RiskAssessment Form, a questionnaire that facilitates the analysisof the product characteristics and provides guidance on safetymeasures to be taken depending on the results of that assessment. If it is confirmed that the drug requires some additionalsecurity measures to be taken, all professionals and technicalstaff of the Pharmacy Services shall be informed of measuresto be taken. Results: Between 2011 and 2013, 64 drugs were assessed. 35of them (54.6%) required some additional security measure tobe applied before being incorporated into clinical practice. Conclusions:The implementation of the method of preventiverisk assessment for new drugs purchased by the Pharmacy Services can be a very useful tool when taking the measures dee-med necessary to minimize the likelihood of a medication erroroccurring before they are incorporated into the distribution/dis-pensing channels put in place by the Pharmacy Services