similar-looking labels?
A
As far away from
each other as pos-
sible. That's the short
answer. Some manu-
facturers' labels, such
as those for cefazolin
and ampicillin, are too close in appearance and can therefore cause
confusion when staff read them quickly. Medications that can be
used for similar therapeutic purposes also increase the potential for
error. Be sure to store medications with similar-looking labels far
away from each other. Some manufacturers minimize the potential
for errors by using more distinct labeling, such as "tallman letters" —
EPHEDrine and EPINEPHrine — to help prevent errors with look-
alike/sound-alike drug
names.
•••
Q
What should my
formulary list
look like?
A
While there is no
"law" on the for-
mat of the formulary, I
suggest the following to
ensure that this docu-
ment is not just for
compliance, but has a
functional value to the
prescribers and nursing
staff.
1 2 0
O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A P R I L 2 0 1 5
z TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT The labels for
cefazolin and ampicillin are awfully similar.
Sheldon
S.
Sones,
RPh
FASCP
