Secretary Tommy G. Thompson let it be known that the department was unlikely to implement the provision of the Agriculture Appropriations legislation passed in November 2000 that would have allowed pharmacists and drug wholesalers to reimport prescription drugs from specified countries into the United States. In a letter to President Clinton on December 26, former DHHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala had effectively quashed those provisions. ASHP had continually opposed the drug reimportation program as it worked its way through Congress because of concerns that the safety and effectiveness of reimported prescription drugs could not be assured. If the Bush Administration were to decide to go ahead and administer the program, additional funding would have to be requested to provide the Food and Drug Administration with adequate resources to hire inspectors to certify the safety of the reimported drugs. The task force's first assignment, after holding a patient safety summit to gain input from representatives of medical professional organizations, state health departments, patient groups, and state licensing boards, will be to release a contract request for the development of a plan on how to integrate existing medical error-reporting systems in order to reduce burdens, make findings more accessible to providers, and improve health care safety.
Hospitals can save a half million dollars each year by using computerized systems.
Computerization is not the only solution to preventing ADEs. Use the Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch program to report serious adverse drug reactions. Improve incident reporting systems. Create an atmosphere for providers to report ADEs without fear of repercussions or punishment. Promote health care provider education on medications.