Newswise — The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation and Cardinal Health today jointly established an annual Award for Excellence in Medication-Use Safety. The $50,000 award will honor a pharmacist-led, multidisciplinary team that makes significant improvements relating to medication safety.
"This award recognizes the achievements of practitioners who have measurably improved the safety of patients' medication use through major practice interventions or continuous quality-improvement initiatives," said Stephen J. Allen, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the ASHP Foundation. "We intend to communicate their accomplishments widely to expand the knowledge of medication-use best practices, pharmacist leadership and enhanced teamwork among health professionals."
This award is the first of its kind to recognize on a national level pharmacy professionals who have assumed a leadership role in the medication-use process. The ASHP Foundation, established in 1968, helps to improve the health and well-being of patients in hospitals and health systems through appropriate, safe and effective medication use. It is closely affiliated with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the national professional society of pharmacists in health systems. Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) is the leading provider of products and services supporting the health-care industry.
"This partnership demonstrates Cardinal Health's commitment to patient safety and our support of those pharmacists taking a leadership role in improving the medication-use system," said Mark Rosenbaum, Cardinal Health's executive vice president, Corporate Sales and Marketing.
Applications for the award will be available in April and due by July 31. Three finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges who will visit each finalist's site next fall. Primary emphasis for the awards criteria will be improvement of patient/practitioner satisfaction, notable process improvements that reduce medication errors or improve patient outcome, and the reduction of institutional costs related to medication use. The winner of the $50,000 award will be announced Nov 1. The two other finalists will receive $10,000. Applications will be available at http://www.excellenceinmeduse.org.
About ASHP FoundationThe ASHP Research and Education Foundation, established in 1968 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. It seeks to improve the health and well-being of patients in hospitals and health systems through appropriate, safe and effective medication use. It provides leadership and conducts education and research activities that foster the coordination of interdisciplinary medication management leading to optimal patient outcomes. Emphasis is given to programs that will have a major impact on advancing pharmacy practice in hospitals and health systems, thereby improving public health.
About Cardinal Health Cardinal Health, Inc. (http://www.cardinal.com) is the leading provider of products and services supporting the health care industry. Cardinal Health develops, manufactures, packages and markets products for patient care; develops drug-delivery technologies; distributes pharmaceuticals and medical, surgical and laboratory supplies; and offers consulting and other services that improve quality and efficiency in health care. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health employs more than 50,000 people on five continents and produces annual revenues of more than $50 billion. Cardinal Health is ranked No.19 on the current Fortune 500 list and named one of the best U.S. companies by Forbes magazine for 2004.
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