Pia Knudsen
Danish Safety Authority, Denmark
Title: The Danish patient safety database and identification of high-risk medicines
Biography
Biography: Pia Knudsen
Abstract
Since 1 January 2004, reports about patient safety incidents in Denmark have been reported to a national patient safety reporting
system – The Danish Patient Safety Database (DPSD). Frontline personnel in hospitals and in the primary care sector are
obligated to report adverse events to a national reporting system. Patients and relatives may report adverse events. Hospital owners
are obligated to act on the reports and the Danish safety authority is obligated to communicate the learning nationally. In 2011, it
was decided to develop a national list of high-risk medicines based on the medicine incidents reported to DPSD. The purpose was to
identify medicines that posed a particular risk for patients. The inclusion criteria were preventable medicine incidents that had led
to: hospitalization, prolonged hospitalization, the need for urgent life-saving treatment, permanent injuries or death. The inclusion is
based on an assessment of several steps based on the patient situation as well as drug and learning potential (fig 1). The list is an overall
list, and is prepared in a spreadsheet. This makes it possible for the users themselves to refine the list to local demands and needs, in
tune with the site's recommendation list and medication guides. Based on the list the Danish Safety Authority has identified seven
groups of medicines that require special attention: Anti-diabetic medicines; anticoagulants; low-dose methotrexate; concentrated
potassium; opioids; gentamicin and; digoxin. The Danish safety authority has published a table of risk situation and medicine groups,
and a booklet on the seven groups of medicines that require special attention. The booklet on the seven groups of medicines that
require special attention, includes suggestions for precautionary. The advisory committee consists of 21 individuals with a technical
knowledge of medicines and knowledge on patient safety. The representatives have different professional backgrounds. Pro.medicin.
dk is a website and database containing information on medicines and treatment guidelines for doctors, pharmacists and other health
professionals.