When prescribing medicines you must ensure that your prescribing is appropriate and responsible and in the patient's best interests. We have put together some links that provide guidance on safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines.
NPS Prescribing Competencies Framework
The Prescribing Competencies Framework describes the competencies that you as health professionals require to prescribe medicines judiciously, appropriately safely and effectively in the Australian healthcare system.
For further information go to:
nps.org.au - Prescribing Competencies Framework
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare
Recommendations for Terminology, Abbreviations and Symbols used in the Prescribing and Administration of Medicines.
The objectives of this paper is to promote patient safety and clear and unambiguous prescribing of medicines. The document establishes the following:
- Principles for consistent prescribing terminology
- A set of recommended terms and acceptable abbreviations
- A list of error-prone abbreviations, symbols and dose designations that have a history of causing error and must be avoided
For further information go to:
health.vic.gov.au - ACSQHC Recommendations.pdf
Clinical Oncological Society of Australia
Guidelines for the safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of cancer chemotherapy.
The issue of medication safety is highly significant when anti-cancer therapy is used as a treatment modality due to the high potential harm from these agents and the disease context in which they are being used. Medication errors can occur for a number of reasons, but the application of specific guidelines and procedures clearly reduces the incidence of errors along with a multidisciplinary approach. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the safe prescribing, dispensing and administration of chemotherapy and related agents used in the treatment of cancer. It is intended that this document be used as a guidance tool to inform local practice and that it will be adapted according to local service needs.
For further information go to:
cosa.org.au - Guidelines for Safe Prescribing 2008.pdf
