»Patient Safety Center for Research and Education

PS-CARE's work aligns with broader healthcare trends, including the shift toward value-based care and a greater emphasis on patient-centered approaches. Identifying preventable medication error strategies are ethical and financially prudent necessities that benefit healthcare systems.

Opioid misuse is a nationwide public health crisis, and effective management is essential. PS-CARE's focus on this issue, particularly in pharmacists' provision of buprenorphine, is significant for better access to treatments reducing stigma, and approaching OUD with a multidisciplinary approach to improve patient outcomes.

Education

In offering training for healthcare practitioners and students in a wide range of healthcare environments, PS-CARE equips professionals involved in patient care with the knowledge and skills to provide safe, high-quality services. PS-CARE offers Continuing Education (CE) to ensure that healthcare professionals stay up-to-date with evolving standards, regulations, and technologies in healthcare. 

Research

PS-CARE's interdisciplinary team combines multiple specialties for collaborative research that impacts the future of medication error prevention, opioid use disorder treatment, prescribing errors, and safe medication disposal. This approach breaks down barriers that and ensures that evidence-based solutions are effectively implemented in Southern California.

Community Engagement

Participating in take-back programs and responsible disposal is a collective effort to ensure a safer and healthier community. PS-CARE and Chapman University are honored to be a community resource for informative updates regarding medication disposal kiosks, and information on other safe medication disposal methods to protect the community.

Recent Activity

$90K Awarded to Kang

The Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists awarded Kang a grant for her proposal “Advancing antimicrobial stewardship: development of the stewardship personnel required for antimicrobial stewardship programs resource calculator (SPARC)”.

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Next Era of Patient Safety

Acknowledging that “to err is human,” 3 PharmD candidates presented the balance of preventing harm today and designing better systems that anticipate problems before they occur.

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Guest Column in Patient Safety Movement Foundation

Column discusses pending federal and state legislation that intends to expand pharmacists' clinical services and scope of practice, furthering pharmacists' ability to serve patients and communities effectively.

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Kang Receives Patient Safety Award

Kang wins CUSP's Patient Safety Award for her proposal on improving outpatient UTI management. Her study with Dr. Beuttler and UCLA aims to reduce antibiotic misuse and resistance through targeted stewardship, enhancing patient care and lowering healthcare costs

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Unexpected Outcome in Pandemic Opioid Challenges

A study found that buprenorphine prescriptions in California remained stable during the pandemic, though there was a decline in new prescribers and an increase in prescription duration, signaling the need for policy changes.

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Patient Safety Movement Foundation’s Virtual Walk

Faculty and staff participated in the Patient Safety Movement Foundation’s Virtual Walk to raise awareness for patient and health worker safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The event featured key figures like PSMF CEO Dr. Dave Mayer and Joe Kiani, PSMF founder and Chapman University President’s Cabinet member.

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Lam to Participate in the FIP Patient Safety Policy Committee

Lam was selected to join the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Patient Safety Policy Committee, which focuses on developing a policy statement on the role of pharmacy in patient safety on an international scale. The committee addresses professional, ethical, and social issues related to patient safety.

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Efforts to Promote Safe Handling of Oral Chemotherapy Agents

CUSP students proposed adding a standardized "hazardous drug" symbol to oral chemotherapy prescription labels to the CA State Board of Pharmacy to enhance the safe handling and disposal of these medications. Their initiative seeks to address inconsistencies in current practices and promote public safety through education and advocacy.

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Opioid Use Trends in Pediatric Patients in JAMA Network

Opioid prescribing in US Emergency Departments for patients under 18 decreased in recent years, after increasing until 2011. The research highlighted racial disparities, with white patients being 34% more likely to receive opioids than non-white patients, and high prescribing rates for conditions like back pain, headaches, and abdominal pain.

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