Programs Performance Indicators and Medication Safety Project

Phase I

The first phase of the PIMS project involved adaptation for Australian use of the Medication Safety Self Assessment® for Australian Hospitals and the Medication Safety Self Assessment® for Australian Hospitals and the Medication Safety Self Assessment® for Antithrombotic Therapy in Australian Hospitals, originally developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) in the US.

These self assessments are risk assessment tools specifically designed to help hospitals take a proactive and system-based approach to medication safety. They will assist hospitals in meeting their obligations for accreditation and can drive change by identifying, and measuring, areas for improvement.

The tools allow self assessment of the medication safety practices within a hospital, identification of improvement opportunities and comparison with the aggregate experience of demographically similar hospitals.

Hospitals are actively implementing the tools in Australia. For more information about the self assessment tools email mssa@cec.health.nsw.gov.au

Phase II

The second phase of the PIMS project involved the revision of the 1998 NSW TAG Manual of Indicators for Drug Use in Australian Hospitals and the NSW TAG Performance Indicators for Drug and Therapeutics Committees.

This newly revised manual of Indicators for Quality Use of Medicines in Australian Hospitals has been produced by NSW TAG in collaboration with the Clinical Excellence Commission. The manual will enable hospital managers and clinicians to guide improvements in medication management in all types of hospitals across Australia.

The manual can be downloaded in full or as individual indicators. Where indicators are downloaded individually, we recommend the front section of the manual is also downloaded. The front section contains critical information on using the indicators to facilitate change as well as information on background to the project and the indicator development process.

To facilitate use of the manual, individual indicators may be reproduced with the following conditions:

• Indicators should be reproduced in their entirety including the copyright statement;
• Excerpts of these indicators may be used providing NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group is acknowledged by referencing the excerpt to the Indicators for Quality Use of Medicines in Australian Hospitals.

Recommended citation:

• Indicators for Quality Use of Medicines in Australian Hospitals: NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group, 2007.