2008 Cardinal Health Patient Safety Grant Recipients >

Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP) and the Ohio State University

Maximizing Patient Safety by Appropriately Configuring the Medication Use System Using Automated Dispensing Cabinets (Pyxis^®)

Medication errors and the adverse effects resulting from these errors are a significant concern for patients, healthcare providers, and public policy makers. Reducing medication errors requires a focus on evaluating and improving the medication use system.

Catholic Healthcare Partners (CHP) and the Ohio State University will partner to complete the study entitled “Maximizing Patient Safety by Appropriately Configuring the Medication Use System Using Automated Dispensing Cabinets (Pyxis^®)”. This study will provide valuable information in how best to configure our operations of medication distribution to improve patient safety.

We expect that information developed from this investigation will be used by Catholic Healthcare Partners hospitals, and other hospitals, to optimally design a medication use system and maximizes patient safety.

The study will be completed at the following four CHP facilities:

1. Mercy Hospital Western Hills
   Cincinnati, Ohio 45238
   Joyce Keegan, Chief Nurse Executive
   Dennis Heenan, Director of Pharmacy
2. Community Health Partners
   Lorain, Ohio 44053
   Pat Torrico, Chief Nurse Executive
   Eric Remster, Pharmacy Manager
3. St. Rita’s Medical Center
   Lima, Ohio 45801
   Kay Wellman, Chief Nurse Executive
   Ronda Lehman, Administrative Director of Pharmacy & Disease Management
4. St. Elizabeth Health Center
   Youngstown, Ohio 44501
   Kathy Tolbert, Chief Nurse Executive
   Barry Shick, Administrative Director of Pharmacy Services

Program inquiries

Wayne Bohenek, Pharm.D., M.S., FASHP
Vice President, Patient Safety and Pharmacy Excellence
Email: WSBohenek@Health-Partners.org

Craig A. Pedersen, RPh, PhD, FAPhA
Associate Professor
The Ohio State University

Catholic Healthcare Partners
615 Elisinore Place
Cincinnati, OH 45202