"FDA Patient Safety News," the FDA's monthly video series for health care professionals, has won the Cheers Award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) for efforts to improve the safe use of medical products and prevent medical errors. The ISMP Cheers Awards honors organizations that have set a superior standard of excellence for others to follow in the prevention of medication errors and adverse drug events.
"FDA Patient Safety News" is broadcast monthly over several medical satellite television networks to more than 4,500 U.S. hospitals and long-term care facilities. It conveys safety information about drugs, devices and vaccines directly from the FDA to physicians, pharmacists, nurses, risk managers and educators across the country; reports on recalls and safety alerts and medical errors; and provides tips on how to protect patients.
The program's video format makes possible the demonstration of patient protection techniques; showing of recalled and counterfeit products; illustrating how medical errors occur; and demonstrating how to reduce risks when using medical products.
In addition to the monthly satellite broadcasts, a link to the show is distributed by e-mail every month to approximately 170,000 subscribers. The program also has its own Web page, http://www.fda.gov/psn, where viewers can download the videos or watch them online, read or print the story scripts, or subscribe to receive the program via video podcasting or RSS feedâall free of charge.
"FDA Patient Safety News" is intended primarily for a professional audience. However, on the assumption that health care professionals will discuss these topics with their patients, some of the videos include information for patients or consumers.