A TEAM-APPROACH TO ADVERSE DRUG REACTION SURVEILLANCE - SUCCESS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

A retrospective adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system has been in place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for 7 years. Initially, the sy stem identified 300 to 400 ADRs per year. After adding a checklist, th at number increased to 750 to 850 per year, an ADR rate of about 2% of total patient admissions. To increase the ADR reporting rate, we init iated a concurrent surveillance program in conjunction with the retros pective system. In the first year of the program, the combined systems identified 1,174 ADRs. In addition, the ADR rate per 100 patient days increased to between 0.5 and 0.7, and the ADR per admission rate incr eased. to 4%, As a result of the more effective ADR surveillance progr am, the P and T Committee has additional data from which to develop gu idelines and educational programs to increase ADR awareness and preven tion, and thus, to improve patient outcomes.