Mercy's pharmacy noted for best safety practices

A report on a statewide review of hospitals by the New York State Department of Health cited Mercy Medical Center as among the institutions leading the way in implementing Pharmacy Safety Best Practices.

The Pharmacy Safety Systems in New York State Hospitals Survey examined responses from 149 facilities across the state to identify the utilization of policies and procedures that reduce medication errors and improve patient safety. Based on those responses, 40 facilities were selected for site visits, and 24 of those hospitals were cited for implementing well-executed, innovative procedures that demonstrated improved safety and reliability in the handling and administering of medications.

Mercy Medical Center was one of only three hospitals on Long Island to be recognized for utilizing any of the best practices. Mercy was noted for its use of weekly patient safety walking rounds, procedures to assure safe administration of anticoagulation drugs, and the active involvement of its board of trustees in reviewing medication safety efforts.