Systematic review of medication safety assessment methods.

Purpose: The accuracy, efficiency, and efficacy of four commonly recommended medication safety assessment methodologies were systematically reviewed.

Methods: Medical literature databases were systematically searched for any comparative study conducted between January 2000 and October 2009 in which at least two of the four methodologies-incident report review, direct observation, chart review, and trigger tool-were compared with one another. Any study that compared two or more methodologies for quantitative accuracy (adequacy of the assessment of medication errors and adverse drug events) efficiency (effort and cost), and efficacy and that provided numerical data was included in the analysis.

Rapid response systems in adult academic medical centers.

A survey suggests that the academic medical centers with successful rapid response system programs defined each call as a chance to save a life, as well as an educational opportunity to increase the knowledge of nurses, interns, and residents throughout the institution.

Opportunity missed: medical consultation, resource use, and quality of care of patients undergoing major surgery.

Background: There is growing interest in collaborative management of surgical patients. However, few data describe how medical consultation influences quality of care or resource use. The objective of this study was to determine whether medical consultation improves care in surgical patients.