Standardised charts
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Why standardised charts?
The Institute of Medicine has noted that 'one of the most powerful means of preventing errors of all kinds is to standardise processes'.2 The development of national common medication charts is based on this principle.
Benefits of standardisation
- A decreased reliance on memory
- Allows newcomers who are unfamiliar to a process or device to use it safely
- A decrease in the likelihood of error 2
Additional features used to create safer systems
- Use of constraints and forcing functions
- Avoid reliance on vigilance
- Simplifying key processes 2
The common medication chart series incorporates each of these features in its design. For example:
- The doctor must enter an administration time, before the nurse can administer the order. This forcing function ensures that the administrator does not misinterpret the frequency.
- Placing the patient identification label on the chart is regarded as an automatic task, and subject to error. The common charts require the first prescriber to print the patient's name and check that this corresponds to the label, thus avoiding reliance on vigilance.
- The discharge medication section is a key component of the medication process, however subject to transcription error. The common charts require the consultant to confirm if a medication is still required on discharge, verify the dosing regime, and specify the quantity required, thus eliminating potential transcription error.
The National Medication Chart Working Group developed a Summary Rationale for a National Medication Chart (PDF 26KB), which provides greater detail of the key principles behind the common chart.
2 Institute of Medicine (US). To err is human. Washington: National Academy Press; 2000.
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