2. { ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS

3. To ensure patient, family/caregiver and home health personnel are instructed to identify adverse reactions to medications and report them in a timely manner. To ensure that the nurse, in coordination with the pharmacist and physician, implements actions when adverse drug reactions occur, including the reporting to appropriate outside agencies PURPOSE

4. All home health personnel will be prepared to identify and react to adverse drug reactions. The process for defining, identifying, and reviewing significant adverse reactions will be collaborative in nature, among nursing, pharmacy, and others as appropriate. POLICY

5. All adverse drug reactions will be reported both internally and externally to appropriate agencies as needed Patients and family/caregivers will receive instruction regarding medication side effects, signs and symptoms of adverse reactions, and any necessary emergency response measures POLICY CONTINUED

6.  Adverse Drug Reaction:  An undesirable or unexpected event that occurs due to administration of a medication, which results in:  Discontinuation of a drug  Modification of a dose of medication  Supportive treatment or additional treatment with prescription medication  A condition which is life-threatening  Prolonging or requiring hospitalization  A disability  Death DEFINTIONS

7.  Patient and family/caregiver will be verbally instructed and will receive written information regarding identification of potential adverse drug reactions on initiation of therapy  Patient and family/caregiver will be given instruction on who to call if s/sx of adverse reaction occurs  The instruction given MUST be documented in the EMR and validate as part of the initial home health assessment PROCEDURE

8.  If an adverse drug reaction is observed by the clinician and/or reported by the patient, the clinician should advise the patient to hold the next dose until the physician can be consulted  All adverse reactions will be promptly reported to the patient’s physician  If the patient is at risk for further complications of an emergency nature, the clinician will initiate appropriate emergency measures PROCEDURE CONTINUED

9.  All adverse reactions will be reported through the incident reporting process. Once reported, they will be review and analyzed for any significant trends, patterns or unusual occurrences that may impact patient care PROCEDURE CONTINUED

10.  IF THE ADVERSE REACTION RESULTS IN SERIOUS INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH, RISK MANGEMENT WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY PROCEDURE CONTINUED