Get Inspired: Learnings from the MedsIQ Champions Network – February 2016

Update on the MiST collaborative

There is widespread agreement that the use of continuous infusions, with variable concentrations, based on a child’s weight, made up in clinical areas, are a major contributor to both prescribing and administration errors.

The solution to this is theoretically straightforward: many errors may be eliminated by fixing the concentrations of the infusions and using appropriate infusion pumps to deliver the medication according to weight based prescriptions. Some clinicians, especially those dealing with very small patients, worry that this cannot be achieved without compromising the fluid volume administered to their patients. That said, this goal has been achieved across the state in Queensland, Australia marking the way for the others to follow.

In January 2016, the MiST collaborative approved Standardisation of Infusions as one of its core projects, with support from its key partners and stakeholders in paediatric medication safety; Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), the Paediatric Chief Pharmacists Group (PCPG), the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Meds IQ.

The objectives of this project are to reach a national agreement, on standard concentrations, for the drugs most commonly administered to children by continuous infusion.

A working group is being assembled and meetings will take place throughout 2015. An open meeting will be held in the February 2017 for a final discussion and vote on the first 20 of these for national adoption. If this affects you please get involved.

Further details can be found on the MiST website here.