[U.S. Food and Drug Administration]

FDA Medical Bulletin * October 1996 * Volume 26 Number 3

CALL FOR MEDICATION
ERROR REPORTING SYSTEMS

The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) is seeking to identify systems for the identification, reporting, and tracking of medication errors. To do this, the NCC MERP wants to establish an inventory of reporting models, especially those that utilize computer-based tracking and/or those in multisite organizations. These models will be analyzed and reported and will be carefully blinded as to their source.

NCC MERP was established in 1995 by 15 organizations representing consumers, health care providers, practitioners, and institutions, as well as manufacturers and regulators, to promote the reporting, understanding, and prevention of medication errors. Among its first year's goals are to stimulate the development of reporting systems within health care organizations and to encourage reporting to national databases. NCC MERP will make recommendations for modifications in delivery systems, practice guidelines, and product packaging, labeling, and naming, to reduce the potential for medication error throughout the health care system.

If your organization maintains a system for tracking medication errors, please submit the following information to the address below:

Send your responses to

Diane Cousins, R.Ph.
National Coordinating Council
for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention
c/o United States Pharmacopeia
12601 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: (301) 881-0666
Fax: (301) 816-8532

Respondents will be added to a mailing list to receive future information on the work of NCC MERP.

REPORT SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS AND PRODUCT PROBLEMS TO MEDWATCH
1-800-FDA-1088

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