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Medication Labels /
JCAHO
JCAHO Medication Label Requirements
NPSG.03.04.01
Label all medications, medication containers and other solutions on and off the sterile field in perioperative and other procedural settings.
Rationale for NPSG.03.04.01
This risk reduction activity is consistent with safe medication practices
and addresses a recognized risk point in the safe administration of medications
in perioperative settings.
Errors, sometimes tragic, have resulted from medications and other solutions
removed from their original containers and placed into unlabeled containers.
Medications or other solutions in unlabeled containers are unidentifiable.
This unsafe practice neglects basic principles of medication management safety
yet has been routine in many organizations with respect to medications
transferred to the sterile field.
Elements of Performance for NPSG.03.04.01
In perioperative and other procedural settings both on and off the sterile field, medication or solution labels include the following:
- Medication name
- Preparation date
- Expiration date when not used within 24 hours
- Expiration time when expiration occurs in less than 24 hours
- Strength
- Quantity
- Diluent and volume (if not apparent from container)
- Note: The date and time are not necessary for short procedures, as defined by the hospital