The American Association for Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) Foundation’s Healthcare Technology Safety Institute (HTSI) is being honored for its work to advance infusion system safety. HTSI receives a Cheers Award from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), a nonprofit organization that seeks ways to reduce medication errors. The award will be presented on December 10 at the ISMP’s annual awards dinner in Orlando, Florida.
“This award really belongs to each volunteer who cares so much about this work we are doing. It means a lot to be recognized for making an impact on patient safety,” said AAMI president Mary Logan.
Each year, the ISMP’s Cheers Awards pay tribute to individuals, organizations, nonprofit associations, companies, and agencies that have set the standard in their efforts to prevent medication errors and other adverse events. To be eligible, an organization must have clearly identified a high-risk medication safety initiative and successfully implemented error-reduction strategies based on ISMP's philosophy and recommendations. Organizations also must share what they have learned through presentations, journal articles, or other activities.
Formally established in 2011, HTSI dedicates itself to strengthening the development, management and use of healthcare technology for improved patient outcomes. The focus on infusion systems was the first major initiative for the institute.
Between 2005 and 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration received more than 56,000 reports of adverse events associated with the use of infusion pumps. Those events, according to the FDA, included serious injuries and more than 700 deaths. During the same time period, there were 87 infusion pump recalls. Those sobering statistics prompted the FDA and AAMI to host a ground-breaking summit on infusion systems in October 2010. HTSI was born from that effort, and its initiatives have grown to include clinical alarms, interoperability, and more.
It also has done pioneering work in the area of clinical alarms, including looking for ways to combat alarm fatigue. HTSI organizes webinars, facilitates discussions between key stakeholders, and supports cutting-edge research to find and promote better ways to design, manage, and safely use healthcare technologies.
“HTSI is honored to be chosen for a Cheers Award,” said Marilyn Neder-Flack, the AAMI Foundation’s new and first full-time executive director. “Our team of dedicated volunteers has worked tirelessly to promote the safe adoption and use of healthcare technology around infusion systems and alarms management. Our overall mission is to ensure that no patient is harmed by healthcare technology,”
American Association for Medical Instrumentation, AAMI, Healthcare Technology Safety Institute, HTSI
