Question

summarize one healthcare policy implemented at the organizational level

Answer 1

LASA POLICY

Look Alike Sound Alike (LASA)

LASA medications are those medicines that are visually similar in physical appearance or packaging and names of medications that have spelling similiarities or similar phonetics.

• Use Tall Man Lettering to emphasis differences in medicines with sound alike names.
• Tall Man Lettering is an error prevention strategy by highlighting the dissimilar letters in both drugs making it in UPPER CASE letters to help distinguish sound alike.

Errors possible if LASA not separated

Chances of medication error in following areas

• Drug Procurement
• Drug Prescribing
• Drug Dispensing
• Drug Administration

Benefits of LASA separation

• Prevention of potentially harmful medication errors
• Reduces the risk of interchanging of medicines
• Reduces the confusions among various health care professionals while selecting medicines for their patients
• Enhances the patient safety.

Guidelines for LASA

• Store LASA medications separately from their pair
• Double check LASA medicines before dispensing and administering
• Read medication labels carefully during the administration process and check received medicines against the prescription
• The staff receiving verbal orders on these medicines should thoroughly verify by read back policy.
• The LASA medication list should be displayed both in pharmacy and wards.

LASA medicines shall be stored distinctively with color coding by clear labeling of names

• SOUND ALIKE - GREEN
• LOOK ALIKE - ORANGE