Legislating Medication Safety: The California Experience

Publication Date: October 2003

Publisher: California HealthCare Foundation

Author(s): Bruce Spurlock

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

This analysis of California hospitals' compliance with medication safety legislation (SB 1875 and SB 801) demonstrates that efforts to improve patient safety have gained momentum in California. Hospitals responded broadly to legislative requirements, going far beyond minimum requirements, even when the legislation provided specific exemptions. Key findings outlined in the report illustrate these efforts:

*Technology solutions were widely embraced by hospitals. On average, California hospitals plan to implement 2.8 technology methods by 2005. A third of the hospitals said they will use four or more technology methods. *The most popular technology planned (46% of hospitals) is computerized physician order entry (CPOE). CPOE enables a prescribing clinician to enter a medication order directly into a software system. The system will detect errors or situations that can lead to an error.

This report explores the specific strategies California hospitals plan to use to address medication safety concerns. It discusses potential concerns about implementing the plans, particularly the need to actively engage physicians in computerized order entry. It also discusses the context and policy implications of the patient safety issue and describes failed previous attempts to grapple with the problem.