High alert medications are those that carry an increased risk of harming patients if used in error. They require an independent double check by two individuals and strict controls over prescribing, storage, and administration. High alert and concentrated electrolyte medications must be stored in a locked cabinet with the key held by the head nurse. They are to be prescribed only by physicians with complete order details and cannot contain prohibited abbreviations.

1. HIGH ALERT MEDICATION
Reported by : VANESA K. DOYDORA, BSN RN

3. HIGH ALERTMEDICATIONS – are
medications that bear a heightened risk of
causing patient harm when USED IN
ERROR.

4. INDEPENDENT DOUBLE CHECK: is a process involving TWO
individuals in which the responsibility of the 2nd individual is to
VERIFY the work performed by the first.

5. Prohibited abbreviation is
not allowed except (
KCl,NaCl)
Concentrated
Electrolytes should not
be kept in the floor stock

6. High alert and
concentrated
Electrolytes
Medication
Storage in
locked cabinet
with key with the
head/charge
nurse of the

7. STORAGE:
The cabinet will have a prominent label
(HIGH ALERT OR CONCENTRATED
ELECTROLYTES) and each
medication are written in RED letter.
Should not be stored as floor stock in
areas that do not have locked cabinets

8. PRESCRIBING
Will be prescribed only by physician with
complete data of prescriptions.
The pharmacist and nursing staff will not carry
out prescription containing prohibited
abbreviation and he/sh is responsible to return it
back to the prescriber for correction

9. CIRCUMSTANCES INCREASING RISK ERRORS IN
HIGH ALERT & CONCENTRATED ELECTROLYTES
MEDICATION
Poor handwritten medication orders.
Verbal/direction orders.
Similar product packaging.

10. STRATEGIES TO AVOID ERRORS INVOLVING HIGH
RISK MEDICATIONS
Avoid storing look a like, sound a like drugs next to each other.