Eliminating error-prone notations in medical communications

Three decades advocating the elimination of ambiguous medical notations, one of the most common, but preventable causes of medication errors, came into sharp focus in 2006 when the FDA and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices launched a comprehensive educational campaign against medical mistakes rooted in unclear abbreviations, symbols and dose designations. Acting out of a joint effort to promote safe healthcare practices, FDA and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices determined that eliminating the use of potentially confusing notations in all forms of medical communication is one way to increase awareness about this important issue, and is one area in which education could help save lives. Still, the frequency of preventable medication-related injuries represents and remains a very serious cause for concern.