Reduce Risks to Patients in Your Practice

Medication safety is paramount in medical oncology, and oncologists should make sure their practices comply with the ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards adopted in 2009. For oral medications, establish systems to ensure patient compliance and safe home administration. Develop safe communication habits for coordinating care with other providers and for patient handoffs. Be aware of risks of error for hospitalized patients and adopt practices to reduce them. In office practice, creating a culture of patient safety that promotes a team approach to care and in which everyone feels safe admitting an error or near-miss is an essential basis for reducing risks. Establish routine checklists and protocols for communication among caregivers, and for office systems. Evaluate your cultural competency and avoid medical jargon with patients. Supplement your oral explanations and instructions with materials written according to guidelines for health literacy. Additional Resources Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards, developed jointly by ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society: www.asco.org/safety Practice Assessments: –The Doctors Company: Interactive Guide for Office Practices: www.thedoctors.com/KnowledgeCenter/ PatientSafety/CON_ID_004057 –Medical Group Management Association: Patient Safety Tools for Physician Practices: www.mgma.com/pppsa Patient safety resources compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Improving Patient Safety in Medical Offices: www.ahrq.gov/qual/mosurvey10/moimpgen.htm Materials for patients: www.cancer.net Authors' Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest The authors indicated no potential conflicts of interest.