JCAHO National Patient Safety Goal Look-Alike/Sound-Alike (LASA) Medications March 21, 2008

1. JCAHO National Patient Safety Goal Look-Alike/Sound-Alike (LASA) MedicationsMarch 21, 2008 JCAHO requires all facilities to identify a list of look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medications used in the organization and take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs. At MultiCare this list is reviewed and updated annually at the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. Items on Table 1 are physically separated in all pharmacy and nursing units, a computer alert is added to caution pharmacists during order entry and LASA labels are placed on pharmacy shelves. Items on Table 2 are not separated but a computer alert is added to caution pharmacists during order entry and LASA labels are placed on pharmacy shelves. For 2008, Novolin/Novolog have been placed in Table 1 vs. Table 2. Lantus/Lente have been removed since Lente Insulin is no longer available and edetate disodium and edetate calcium disodium have been added to Table 2. The MultiCare Look-Alike/Sound-Alike (LASA) medications include: Table 1. • Ephedrine/Epinephrine • Etoposide/Etoposide phosphate • Lipid based vs. standard Amphotericin • Lipid based vs. standard Doxorubicin • Morphine oral solution/concentrate • Novolin/Novolog • Oxycodone oral solution/concentrate • Vincristine/Vinblastine Table 2. • Celebrex/Celexa/Cerebyx • Depakote/Depakote ER/Depakene • Edetate Disodium/Edetate Calcium Disodium • Hydroxyzine/Hydralazine • Lamisil/Lamictal/Lamotrigine • Serzone/Seroquel • Tegretol/Tegretol XR/Carbatrol ER • Tramadol/Trazodone • Wellbutrin SR/Wellbutrin XL For more information regarding Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Medications go to the MHS Intranet and read the 2008 JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals – requirement 3C.