What is the purpose of ISMP's list of unsafe abbreviations?

The purpose of ISMP's list of unsafe abbreviations is to limit the use and ensure verification of certain abbreviations that can lead to medication errors. This list is essential for enhancing patient safety in healthcare settings by clearly identifying those abbreviations that have been associated with misunderstandings, misinterpretations, or errors in medication administration. By discouraging the use of these unsafe abbreviations, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the likelihood of mistakes that could harm patients.

In contrast, standardizing drug names or creating new medically accepted abbreviations does not address the specific problem of miscommunication caused by existing abbreviations. Promoting the use of abbreviations in prescriptions could lead to more confusion and potential errors, undermining patient safety, rather than enhancing it. Therefore, focusing on limiting and verifying certain abbreviations is a vital step in safeguarding against medication errors.