DRUG ERRORS GO UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

Purdue University is investigating medication errors and providing recommendationsfor preventing them. Backed by a $25-million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc,the newly formed special team of researchers will establish a program that willreduce medication errors and enable pharmacists, physicians, and nurses to honetheir skills by improving drug distribution and administration systems.

The university plans to develop community-based models to better use pharmaciststo help with early detection and management of adverse drug events. Asa model, the medication-error response team will use Purdue's TechnicalAssistance Program, which connects Indiana companies with Purdue resources,to create a pharmaceutical technical assistance program. The researchers alsowill develop systems, much like those currently found in industry, to reduce drugerrors.