Kristine M. Gleason, B.S.Pharm., is Research Pharmacist Coordinator; Jennifer M. Groszek, R.N., B.S.N., M.J., and Carol Sullivan, R.N., M.B.A., are Research Nurse Coordinators, Patient Safety Team; Denise Rooney, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., is Manager, Patient Safety Team; and Cynthia Barnard, M.B.A., M.S.J.S., C.P.H.Q., is Director, Quality Strategies and Patient Safety Team, Division of Quality and Operations, Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), Chicago, IL. Gary A. Noskin, M.D., is Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, and Medical Director, Healthcare Epidemiology and Quality, NMH.
Address correspondence to Ms. Gleason at the Division of Quality and Operations, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 676 North St. Clair Street, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60611 ([email protected]).
The Patient Safety Team and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis team members at Northwestern Memorial Hospital are acknowledged for their active participation and support. Karen Nordstrom, B.S.Pharm., Michael Fotis, B.S.Pharm., and Desi Kotis, Pharm.D., provided invaluable assistance and insight into this project. The dedicated clinical staff pharmacists are acknowledged for enhancing patient safety by obtaining medication and allergy histories, reconciling discrepancies in medication histories and orders, and collecting data.
Supported in part by an Excellence in Academic Medicine Grant from the State of Illinois Department of Public Aid and U.S. Public Health Service grant UR8/515081.
Presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, Atlanta, GA, December 11, 2002; the 5th Annual National Patient Safety Foundation Patient Safety Congress, Washington, DC, March 12-14, 2003; and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 15th Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care, New Orleans, LA, December 4, 2003.
