How to Prescribe Safely

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Prescribing Safely

Kevin Gibbs

Pharmacy Manager: Clinical Services

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Aims of talk….

Discuss the pitfalls of drug history taking

Introduce medicines reconciliation

Help you to reduce risk from prescribing medicines

Identify sources of information which will help you prescribe safely

Revision from 3 rd year talk!

Give you pointers to ask on your placements

Why me?

You will do this every day

You will be responsible for your prescribing

You will make prescribing errors

You will be expected to prescribe to NPSA competencies (Eg Anticoagulant & IVs)

You need to be aware of potential pitfalls

You need to think about prescribing safely

You need to know when to ask for help

What is a medication error ?

‘ a medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of health professional, patient or consumer’

Incidence of errors

The precise incidence of medication errors in the NHS is unknown

~10-20% of all ADRs are due to errors

In USA 1.8% of hospital admissions have a harmful error leading to 7000 deaths per year

In Australia – 1% of all admissions suffer an ADR due to medication error

Common error types?

Wrong patient

Contra-indicted medicine

Wrong drug / ingredient

Wrong dose / freqency

Wrong formulation

Wrong route of administration

Poor handwriting on

Rx

Incorrect IV administration calculations or pump rates

Poor record keeping

Paediatric doses

Poor administration techniques

Most common types of medication error reported

Commonest causes of medication errors

Lack of knowledge of the drug – 29%

Lack of knowledge about the patient – 18%

“rule” violations – 10%

“Slip” or memory loss – 9%

JAMA 1995;274:35-43

Top Therapeutic

Groups Reported

Prescribing responsibilities

Drug

Dose

Route

Frequency

For parenteral therapy

Diluent and infusion volume

Access line for adminsitration

Rate of administration

Duration of treatment

Allergies and sensitivities

• Provide a prescription that is

LEGIBLE (!!!!!)

Legal

Signed

Giving ALL information to allow safe administration

Controlled drugs

In your handwriting:

1. Name and address of patient

2. Drug and dose

3. Form and strength of the drug

• Modified release

4.

• Strength if liquids/injections

Total quantity (or no. of dosage units) in WORDS and figures)

The requirements for a hospital take-home prescription are the same

Drug history taking

2.

3.

4.

1.

What information should be gathered during a drug history?

What is the aim of the drug history?

Where do you find the information?

What is “Medicines Reconciliation”?

Drug Histories: What information?

Current medication

Dose

Form

Strength

Frequency

Indication

Past medication and treatment failures

Over the counter medication

“Recreational” drugs

Adverse reactions

Allergies and sensitivities - with clinical detail

Estimate of patient adherence / concordance with their medicines

DHx: Information Sources

GP admission letter

GP records – From surgery / fax

Patients own tablets

“Dosetts” = Multi-compartment compliance aids

Written lists – Patient / carer

Nursing home form

Pharmacist patient records

Recent discharge letters

GP admission letter

Do not always contain a drug history

Can only contain those deemed relevant to admission

Out-of-hours

No information for out-of-hours GP services to call on; so incomplete or reliant on patient’s memory / own medication

GP records

Should be definitive; but:

May be inaccurate / incomplete if:

Recent discharge not reached GP and acted upon

Recent discharge had changed medicines with no explanation

Some drugs are secondary-care only or issued in specialist units eg post-transplantation / specialist clinics (CF, psychiatric etc)

These may not be on the GP record

The doses may be altered by the originating unit not the GP, so GP records may not be accurate

GP records - 2

Private prescriptions may not be recorded on GP computer

Watch the date last issued

Has this been stopped?

Is the patient no longer taking the medicine

Adverse reaction?

Lack of effect?

Will have allergies and sensitvities

Patient’s own medicines

Are these for the correct patient?

Easy to pick up a relative’s medicines by mistake

Easy to miss if the same surname

Are they still taking these?

Stopped without GP being aware

Stopped with GP agreement but still on GP list

Stopped a while ago but kept “just in case”

Contents of medicine cupboard emptied!

Compliance aid boxes have lists inside

Previous drug chart or discharge letter

How current are these?

More recent changes?

Check with the patient

Incidences of errors with typist-generated letters

Co-careldopa 3.125mg tds – Prescribed on next admission

Was 31.25 tds

Electronic discharge summaries

Errors from picking incorrect drop-down list

Nursing Home list

MARs sheet

Medication Administration Record

Similar to a hospital drug chart

Should be an accurate list

Community pharmacist records

If one pharmacy is used regularly this can be a additional source of information

Open on saturdays

Will include all prescriptions dispensed fo that patient including

But may also miss hospital-only medicines

Top 10 drug groups most commonly associated with preventable drug-related admissions

Drug group

Antiplatelets

Diuretics

NSAIDs

Opioids

Beta-blockers

Drugs affecting renin

–angiotensin system

Drugs used in diabetes

Positive inotropes

Corticosteroids

Antidepressants

All preventable drugrelated admissions

(%)

16.0

15.9

11.0

8.5

4.6

4.4

3.5

3.2

3.1

3.0

ADRs and over treatment

(%)

17.3

16.0

12.0

8.9

4.4

4.6

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.2

Patient adherence problems (%)

4.1

9.2

3.1

2.0

2.0

2.0

20.4

4.1

4.1

4.1

0

0

2.2

2.2

Under treatment

(%)

0

0

8.9

2.2

11.1

0

Howard et al Which drugs cause preventable admissions to hospital? A systematic review. Br J Clin

Pharmacol 2006;63(2):136-147.

Other common pitfalls

Prescribed & labelled ‘As directed’

Own tablets not brought in

Several possible strengths eg inhalers

Trade names – beware duplicates

Patient can’t remember

“Dosett” boxes X tablet identification

Asking about “your tablets” – Patients will then miss off inhalers, creams etc!

Take extra care if:

Impaired renal function

Hepatic dysfunction

Children

The elderly

Drug is unknown to you

Very new drug

Medicines Reconciliation: Definition

Definition

“Collecting an accurate list of the patient's home medicines, using that list to write prescriptions; and documenting changes or discontinuation of medicines and doses”

• National Guidance

• National Institute for Health and Clinical

Excellence: Patient Safety Guidance 1.

Technical patient safety solutions for medicines reconciliation on admission of adults to hospital.

< http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=byID&o=11897 >

Medicines Reconciliation: Process

1.

2.

3.

Verification:

Collection of the medication history

Obtaining a complete and accurate list of each patient's current medications (medication history) including name, dosage, frequency and route

Clarification :

Ensuring that the medications and doses are appropriate

Comparing the in-patient prescription or TTA to the medication history

Reconciliation :

Documentation of changes in the prescriptions

Resolving any discrepancies that may exist between the medication history list and prescribed medicines before an adverse drug event

(ADE) can occur

Note: ADEs can result from omitted drugs or doses

This is done at admission, on transfer between levels of care, on discharge

If we don’t reconcile medication?

Systematic review showed 30-70% for unintentional variances between the medication patients are taking and their subsequent in-patient prescriptions 1

Examples

Omeprazole started in ITU for prevention of stress ulceration. No

GI Hx.

Carried on for 3 years

Admitted for surgery. PMH: RA, HTN

GP history not used

Not given regular meds for 6 days

Prednisolone 5mg, Methotrerxate, Alendronic acid, ramipril,

Bendroflumethiazide, Alendronic acid, Folic Acid

Painful joints, stiffness,  BP

1: Campbell etal. A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing medication error (medicines reconciliation) at hospital admission. University of Sheffield School of Health and Related

Research. September 2007

If we don’t give the GP full details?

How will she know what we have done?

What we have stopped and why

What we have started and why

What they should look out for or monitor, Tx goals

Their records will not be up-to-date

Patients are confused

Different lists from hospital and the GP

Medication is stopped by GP as no idea why started

There will be errors on the next admission

Minimum information to be supplied at discharge

Complete and accurate patient details (full name, date of birth, weight if under 16 years, NHS number, consultant, ward discharged from, date of admission, date of discharge)

The diagnosis of the presenting condition plus co-morbidities

Procedures carried out

A list of all the medicines prescribed for the patient on discharge

(and not just those dispensed at the time of discharge which are in addition to the regular medication)

Dose, frequency, formulation and route of all the medicines listed

Medicines stopped and started, with reasons

Lengths of courses where appropriate (e.g. antibiotics, clopidogrel)

Details of variable dosage regimens (e.g. oral corticosteroids, warfarin etc)

Known allergies, hypersensitivities and previous drug interactions

Any additional patient information provided such as corticosteroid record cards, anticoagulant books etc.

Further inflromation available at url:

< http://npci.org.uk/medicines_management/safety/reconcil/process_tools/pt_data_r econciliation.php

>

Safer Prescribing

Know your patients

Know your medicines

Use a limited number if possible to aid familarisation –

Prescribing Formularies

Use your resources

Peers

Pharmacists

Specialists (medical & non-medical)

Guidelines and decision support help

National help

National Patient safety Agency – Alerts and reports

MHRA – Monthly newsletter for prescribing and adverse reactions

Sign-up for this on website

Alert 20:Promoting Safer Practice

With Injectable Medicines

NPSA receives 800 incident reports a month concerning injectable medicines.

24% of all medication incident reports.

58% of incident reports leading to death and severe harm.

Decision-making with pharmacological therapy:

ENCoRE

E xplore

 identify patient nature of symptoms other medicines or treatment allergies and ADRs adherence to treatment exclude serious disease

N o medication option

 unnecessary contra-indicated

C are over

 older people children pregnancy/lactation

R efer

 potentially serious problems persistent symptoms

E xplain

 suggested course of action

Pharmacy help

View charts daily

Check doses, calculations etc

Check interactions

Check appropriateness

Provide advice and information

Help with prudent antibiotic use

Medication reviews for patients

On admissions units

Take medication histories

Help with reconciliation

Medicines Information Dept.

All hospitals have access to one - phone/bleep

Any medicines-related enquiry eg

Treatment options

Drugs in pregnancy

Evidence collection and collation

There to help you prescribe safely

Prescribing guidelines and resources

Developed to standardise treatment

Especially: If evidence is conflicting / high risk / high cost

Evidence based use of medicines

Find out what is available in your Trust

Usually intranet-based

BNF / Medusa intravenous drugs guide

Policies

Medicines codes or policies

MUST read and follow

Intranet-based BNF – Localised with Formulary/Local text

Intranet IV administration Guide “Medusa”

Management of Acute Hyperkalaemia in Adults

• tingling clinical features of acute hyperkalaemia hyperkalaemia is defined as a serum potassium greater than 5.2 mmol/L other signs and symptoms ( 1 ) usually asymptomatic but can include;

• paraesthesia • muscle weakness • flaccid paralysis

ECG signs if present treat urgently

• tall, peaked T-waves, followed by flattening of P-wave, prolongation of PR interval, QRS widening, and development of S-wave,

• arrhythmias (bradycardia, VT, VF)

• deterioration to asystole at a serum potassium around 7mmol/L or more

potential precipitant causes i

initial management i

8

G uide

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Page 46 of 11

Prescribing Quiz

Teams of 4/5 people

If need additional information write need info on . . .’

Question 1

A frail 80 year old lady is admitted with falls, a chest infection and feeling sick.

PMH AF and Hypertension

DHx Bendroflumethazide 5mg daily

Atenolol 50mg daily

Ramipril 1.25mg daily

Aspirin 75mg daily

Warfarin 3mg daily

Digoxin 250 micrograms daily

O/A Benzylpenicillin IV 2.4g qds and

Ciprofloxacin po 400mg bd

List 5 potential problems or issues with this prescription….

Question 2

Drug chart =

Benzylpenicillin 2.4G IV qds

Ciprofloxacin 750mg bd

After 2 days therapy the patient can be discharged – write the take home prescription

(TTO – T o T ake H ome)

(TTA – T o T ake A way)

Question 3

A patient is admitted on-call via GP cover service. The admissions letter states the medicines as:

ISMN 60mg / day

Nifedipine 30mg /day

Atorvastatin 30mg / day

Fill in the ‘in-patient’ drug chart for this patient

Question 4

2001 NHS goal – By how much did the number of serious errors in the use of prescribed medicines need to reduced by 2005?

Question 5

Give the generic names of the following

Zocor

Tegretol

Istin

Losec

Question 6

A patient is going home and needs the following:

MST 40mg bd for 14 days

Please write the prescription (excluding name and address)

Question 7

A patient needs Vancomycin 500mg bd IV

Write up in patient drug chart

Question 8

Patient is due to go home and has the following on in patient Rx:

Amiodarone 200mg tds (started 4 days ago)

Simvastatin 10mg on

Furosemide 40mg bd (for post-op peripheral oedema)

Zopiclone 7.5mg on (started in hospital)

Write patients TTO for 1 mth

Answer: Question 1

Bendroflumethazide 5mg daily Dose for HTN is 2.5mg

Atenolol 50mg daily ? cause of falls

Ramipril 1.25mg daily

Aspirin 75mg daily

Seems low, has this been dose-titrated?

Aspirin and warfarin interaction

Warfarin 3mg daily Warfarin and antibiotic interactions

Digoxin 250 micrograms daily Dose ? high as elderly – check levels

Benzylpenicillin IV 2.4G qds

Ciprofloxacin po 400mg bd = IV dose, oral dose is 750mg bd

1 mark per green answer

Answer: Question 2

Change IV to oral

Amoxycillin 500mg tds for 5 days

Ciprofloxacin 750mg bd for 5 days

-1 if unsigned

1 marks each

Answer: Question 3

Isosorbide mononitrate MR 60mg prescribed at 8am

Nifedipine 30mg MR prescribed daily

Atorvastatin 30mg prescribed at night

But an unlikely dose as generally 10mg,

20mg or 40mg (No 30mg tablet) - Check

1 mark each

-1 if no signature included

-1 mark if no routes included

Answer: Question 4

40%

Answer: Question 5

Zocor simvastatin

Tegretol carbamazepine

Istin amlodipine

Losec omeprazole

Answer: Question 6

Morphine (Sulphate) MR (SR) 40mg

BD (for 14 days)

28 (twenty eight) 30mg MR tablets

28 (twenty eight) 10mg MR tablets

(1120mg – one thousand, one hundred and twenty milligrams)

Sign, date and print name

Answer: Question 7

Drug

Vancomycin

Dose

500mg

Route

IV

Start Date

6.1.9

Stop Date

Review

10.1.9

Signature

Squiggle

Pharm

Additional instructions

In 100mls Sodium chloride 0.9% over 60 minutes via peripheral line

8

12

18

24 x x

Answer: Question 8

-

-

Amiodarone 200mg tds for 4 days then bd for 7 days then daily

Simvastatin 10mg on

Frusemide 40mg bd for a set time

Add a note to the GP for review will accept a dose change eg 40mg om

No zopiclone should be required as started in hospital

Summary: Safe prescribing

Clear and unambiguous

Use approved names

No abbreviations eg ISMN

Unless G or mg then write units in full

(micrograms or nanograms)

Avoid decimal points – if needed then make very clear: .5ml X 0.5ml 

Avoid a trailing zero: 1.0mg X 1mg 

Avoid fractions: 0.5mg X 500 micrograms 

Rewrite charts regularly

If amend prescription re-write or sign and date amendment

For frequency use standard abbreviations eg od

/ bd / tds etc

If using a dose by weight calculate the dose needed (NOT 1.5mg/kg)

Take time (e.g. to read patient information)

Use your resources

When in doubt - ASK

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