High alert medications are those that pose a significant risk of patient harm if used incorrectly. The document outlines common risk factors for errors and suggests strategies for procurement, storage, prescribing, preparation, administration, and monitoring to minimize risks. Emphasizing proper labeling, training, and communication among healthcare professionals is crucial to ensuring safe use of these medications.

1. HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS
Dr UPPU JHANSI RANI
PHARM D
CLINICAL PHARMACIST

2. Definition: High alert medication
• High alert medications that bear a
heightened risk of causing significant
patient harm when used in error.
• Although mistakes may or may not be
common with these drugs, the
consequences of an errors are clearly
more devastating to patients.
Definition: High Alert Medications

3. Definition: High alert medication
• Poorly written medication orders
• Incorrect dilution procedures
• Confusion between IV,IM
• Confusion between the strength of the
same medication
• Wrong Infusion rate
• Look alike sound alike product
Common Risk factors

4. Definition: High alert medication
1) Procurement
2) Storage
3) Prescribing
4) Preparation
5) Dispensing
6) Administration
7) Monitoring
8) Training
9) Information
10) Evaluation of action
Strategies to avoid errors involving HAM

5. Definition: High alert medication
• Limit the drug strengths available in the formulary of
each facilities
• AVOID FREQUENT CHANGE of brand or color. Notify to
the users when ever there are changes.
• Inform to all the health care professionals about new
HAM.
• Encourage the purchase of equipment and
consumables with the safety features and safe drug
administration.
Procurement

6. Definition: High alert medication
• Carefully store to ensure medications are kept at the
correct place.
• The containers should be labelled individually
• Avoid look alike sound alike drugs and different
strengths of same drug being stored side by side.
• Use Tall-Man lettering to emphasize the difference
• Limit units floor stock
• Must labelled High Alert Medication.
Storage

7. Definition: High alert medication
• Do not use Abbreviations when prescribing
HAM.
• Specify the route, dose and frequency of the
treatment.
• Use read back procedure for verbal orders
• Write Eligible handwritting .
Prescribing

8. Definition: High alert medication
• Establish a counter checking system
• All dilute medicines MUST BE LABELLED with the
name, strength and Time of dilution immediately after
dilution.
Preparation

9. Definition: High alert medication
• Ensure no distraction during the administration of
medicine.
• Recheck the prescription while administering
• Avoid ordering HAM verbally, in case of emergency
phone orders to be verified,
Administration

10. Definition: High alert medication
• Closely monitor Vitals, laboratory data and
patients response before and after
administration of HAM
• Monitor for Adverse drug reactions
• Keep antidotes and resuscitation equipment
ready in the units..
Monitoring

11. Definition: High alert medication
HAM Stickers should be labelled on the storage shelves,
Containers, Product package and loose vials
Labelling

12. Definition: High alert medication
Labelling

15. ANY QUESTIONS?