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Mission Statement of the AAEECE Worldwide Patient Safety Initiative to  Address LASA Eye and Ear Related Medication Errors: January 2010

In an effort to directly address medication safety issues related to Look-Alike Sound-Alike (LASA) Eye and Ear Related Medication Errors that affect our patients, hospitals, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists on a daily basis, The American Association of Eye and Ear Centers of Excellence (AAEECE), formerly The American Association of Eye and Ear Hospitals (AAEEH), are asking for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, the FDA, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other domestic and international healthcare organizations to support and partner with us to review existing patient safety literature and medication error reports that pertain to these products and to promote new research to identify best systems and safety improvements that will benefit both patients and healthcare professionals with/without visual impairment.

We urge manufacturers to work with us in revising existing policies and practices of packaging these drugs which include a review of color schemes, fonts, plastic wrapping designs, color coding, and logo placement on external boxes as well as on the immediate drug container. We also ask that the pharmaceutical manufacturers adopt new and innovative safety practices when naming and manufacturing new ophthalmic solutions and containers (ex. Cosopt and Azopt).

Finally, we urge that they also conduct risk assessments programs, prior to the marketing of new drugs, that include patients with visual impairment and "front line" healthcare professional for feedback which includes a review of the administration, dispensing, storing, and distribution of potential LASA medications. The Initiative also supports the ongoing awareness and education of patients, pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and all healthcare professionals regarding strategies to identify and minimize the potential risk of LASA Eye and Ear Related Medication Errors.

Department of Pharmacy Services

The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
310 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003 (in Manhattan)
Tel: (212) 979-4378
Fax: (212) 353-5915
Email: lasaepetition@nyee.edu

This website is maintained by The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary.

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