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Patient Safety Center for Research and Education
Patient Safety Center for Research and Education

» Patient Safety Center for Research and Education

PSCARE'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. PSCARE'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.

Annual Patient Safety Conference, Co-Hosted by Chapman University and CSHP

Balancing education and collaboaration, the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists and CUSP co-host the annual Pacific Coast Patient Safety Conference to shape the trajectory of patient and medication safety.

Breaking attendance records every year, sessions focus on historical standards and future predictions in healthcare and attract a diverse audience, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

Save the Date: Pacific Coast Patient Safety Conference 2025

Please join us in sunny Santa Barbara from February 28 to March 1, 2025, for this upcoming PCPSC. Call for speakers and posters is now available using the buttons below.

Call for Speakers Form Call for Posters

Education

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

Research

PSCARE'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. The collaborative 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. PSCARE 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.

Patient Safety Research Highlights: 

Patient Safety Movement Foundation newsletter Guest Column
Written by Dr. Jerika Lam and Dr. Reza Taheri, the 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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Dr. Amy Kang Receives Patient Safety Award
Dr. Amy 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-Related 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.
Read More
CUSP joins the 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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Dr. Lam to Participate in the FIP Patient Safety Policy Committee
Dr. Jerika 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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Advocacy 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.
Read More

Recent Grant: How AI/ML models in CDS tools for Opioid Prescribing Influence Inequalities in Patient Care

The NIH has awarded $250,000 to Dr. Sherry Wang to investigate potential biases in AI and machine learning systems used to treat patients with opioid use disorder. Dr. Wang will collaborate with 2 others at Chapman University on this project.

Our Team

Our dedicated research team at Chapman University is composed of experts from various fields, all united by a common goal of advancing patient safety. While some members contribute to multiple sub-teams based on their specific interests, others focus on singular areas of expertise. Together, we collaborate closely with researchers from other esteemed institutions to drive impactful research and innovation.

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Contact PSCARE
Dr. Marc Fleming
Director, Professor of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
(714) 516-5410

Founding PSCARE

After almost a decades-long history of focusing teaching, research, and practice on the critical importance of patient safety, Chapman creates a new research center that tackles two of the most critical healthcare issues of our time: preventing medication errors and managing opioid use disorder (OUD).