High Alert Medication: Medications that have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error.
High Alert Medication Category: a category of medications in which all drugs included are considered high alert although not listed individually in this Guideline includes:
LOOK-ALIKE SOUND-ALIKE (LASA) MEDICATIONS mean that Medications with generic or proprietary names that look or sound like other medication names. Confusing medication names may lead to potentially harmful medication errors.
Concentrated Electrolytes:
Other High Alert Medications:
A specific list of potentially problematic look-alike sound-alike medication combinations is identified and specific safety strategies implemented to decrease the potential for unintended LASA medication interchange. (Separation and labeling of similar product packaging (look-alike medications) & similar medication name (sound-alike medications) in pharmacy and /wards/departments) .
The LASA list will be revised annually following review of medication related error reports and recommendations from National Quality organizations such as: The Joint Commission and Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).