Dear Food Marketing Institute Officers and Members, Prescription customer safety is a theme of this year's National Metric Week observance (October 4-10). Since many of your member companies provide in-store pharmacy services, I address this National Metric Week message to them in particular.
We in the U.S. continue to use two systems of measurement: our own customary system of units and the metric system. Confusion between these two measurement systems can sometimes result in medication dosing errors. Usually, this involves mistaking milliliters for teaspoonfuls, and despite the best efforts of the vigilant pharmacy staff, the result may be a serious medication overdose for the patient-customer. As U.S. society continues to cling to a dual-system existence, it retains a "built-in" added risk for everyone touching retail healthcare: pharmacies, patients, and grocery store owners. This year, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP, see www.ismp.org) took action on this problem. It recommended that only the metric system be used in U.S. prescribing, dispensing, patient counseling, and pharmacy computer mnemonics (please see http://www.ismp.org/pressroom/PR20090603.pdf and http://www.ismp.org/Newsletters/ambulatory/archives/200905_1.asp). In its press eannouncement, ISMP stated that some of its measurement-system-related error reports cited instances of patient injury and hospitalization due to the measurement system mix-ups. Since 1916,The U.S. Metric Association has advocated U.S. changeover to the metric system as the Nation's sole measurement standard. Although ISMP seeks a metric-only medication culture, improved medication safety will be best achieved when all Americans use and "think" in the decimal metric system. Besides increasing efficiency via decimal arithmetic, a metricated America will protect health, and even save lives. Therefore, "safety in measurement" is a watch phrase for National Metric Week 2009. Sincerely, Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. www.metric.org [email protected] +1(432)528-7724
