Medication Safety

Better care through better medication management

 

Reducing Harm from Medications

National estimates suggest that Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) contribute an additional $3.5 billion to United States healthcare costs. Given the United States population’s large and ever-increasing magnitude of medication exposure, the potential for harm from ADEs is a critical patient safety and public health challenge. ADEs can include, but are not limited to, medication errors, adverse drug reactions, allergic reactions and overdoses.

The Great Plains QIN is partnering with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders in the region to reduce and monitor ADE rates. We are targeting Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) consumers taking three or more medications, including at least one of these high-risk medications: anticoagulants, diabetic agents and/or opioids, for improvement. Tools, education and trainings will be offered. Specific goals include:

  • Reducing ADEs by 35 percent per 1,000 screened Medicare consumers by 2019
  • Monitoring ADE rates by Medicare consumers on anticoagulants, diabetic agents and/or opioids by care setting, state, region and readmission rate
For more information on how medication safety is a key element to improved care coordination, visit the Care Coordination Initiative page of this site.

 

 

Medication Safety News

News

See All Medication Safety News Posts 

Training Events

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Drug Take-Back

External Resources
Drug Disposal Information - Diversion Control Division Website
Drug Disposal Locator 

State Specific Drug Takeback Resources
Nebraska Meds Coalition
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
North Dakota Pharmacist Association
South Dakota Department of Health

Medication Safety

External Resources
AHRQ Community Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture
As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines and Alcohol
Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
Blood Pressure Medication Adherence
FDA Medication Safety
Great Plains QIN Consumer Medication Safety Resources
Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)
Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) - High-Alert Medications
ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment® for High-Alert Medications
Kansas K-TRACS PDMP
Medication Use Safety Training for Seniors (MUST) 
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services PDMP
North Dakota Board of Pharmacy PDMP
Prescribing Guidelines for the Elderly
South Dakota Board of Pharmacy PDMP
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines

 

Opioids

External Resources

A Prescriber’s Guide to the New Medicare Part D Opioid Overutilization Policies for 2019
APhA Opioid Use, Abuse and Misuse Resource Center
Evidence-Based Strategies for Preventing Opioid Overdose
Federal Resources for Rural Communities to Help Address Substance Use Disorder and Opioid Misuse
GenerationRx
Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain    
HCUP Statistical Brief #224 Patient Characteristics of Opioid-Related Inpatient Stays and Emergency Department Visits Nationally and by State, 2014
Healthcare Communities | Medication Management and Opioid (MMO) Initiative
HHS Action to Address Opioid-Drug Related Overdoses & Deaths
Medicare Part D Opioid Drug Mapping Tool
National Council for Behavioral Health | Medication Assisted Treatment
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Physician Tools
Nebraska Pain Guidance
NHA Opioid Toolkit
ONC Health IT Playbook - Opioid Epidemic
Opioid Prescribing: Safe Practice, Changing Lives (free CE available-registration required)
PainEDU Pain Management Resources
Pathways to Safer Opioid Use
QIO Program | Prescription Drug Monitoring Program State Videos
Stem the Tide: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Telemedicine and Prescribing Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (DHHS)

State-Specific Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

Kansas K-TRACS
Nebraska Health Information Initiative
North Dakota Board of Pharmacy
South Dakota Board of Pharmacy

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Meet The Experts

Jayme Steig

Jayme Steig, PharmD, RPh

Pharmaceutical Care Specialist
North Dakota
701-989-6224
Email Jayme

Great Plains Quality Care Coalition

Our Vision: Through collaboration and partnership, we aspire to make healthcare in the Dakotas the best in the nation. We have partnered with committed nursing homes, community leaders and healthcare organizations to improve the care in our communities. Better together.