Article: Abbreviations pose threat to patient safety.(PATIENT SAFETY NEWS)

Although abbreviations in health care may be efficient, their use comes at the expense of patient safety, according to authors of a new study published in the September 2007 issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. The findings provide further support for The Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" list of abbreviations that is part of its National Patient Safety Goals. The researchers also suggest the need to consider additions to the "Do Not Use" list.

Although abbreviations are known causes of medication errors, the aim of this study was the first to examine the exact characterization and impact of these errors. Researchers collected and ...

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