***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Vainieri Huttle Vainieri Huttle on the 'Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act' (A-1803)

VAINIERI HUTTLE MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE ON THE 'PHARMACY QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND ERROR PREVENTION ACT'

(ENGLEWOOD) - Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) today issued a multimedia package on her legislation (A-1803) to reduce the number of preventable prescription medication errors that occur in New Jersey through a combination of additional state oversight, pharmacy quality improvements and enhanced consumer education programs.

The multimedia package consists of a video op-ed on the topic, audio of same and a copy of the script as delivered.

The video op-ed can be accessed directly via our Web site, www.assemblydems.com, or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

The script is appended below:

"Prescription drugs have improved the lives of millions of New Jersey residents, from reducing recovery times after surgery to allowing individuals with long-term illnesses to lead normal, active lives.

"When prescription mistakes are made, however, the results can be devastating.

"A mix-up in the kind of drugs being taken can lead to serious health complications, while an incorrect dosage can turn life-saving medicine into deadly poison.

"Fortunately, prescription errors are largely preventable if doctors and pharmacists pay close attention to the types of medications being prescribed to patients.

"Unfortunately, that does not always seem to be the case in New Jersey.

"To help reduce the possibility of prescription drug errors, I am sponsoring legislation - A-1803 - known as the 'Pharmacy Quality Improvement and Error Prevention Act.'

"My legislation would create a special 'Medical Error Prevention Task Force,' made up of medical specialists, pharmacists and members of the public, responsible for creating guidelines for the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy on medication error prevention, pharmacy quality improvement and consumer education programs.

"Once the task force's final report is adopted by the state Board of Pharmacy, each pharmacy in the state would have six months to create a quality improvement program aimed at reducing the number of prescription-related errors that occur.

"This, in conjunction with several other bills currently being considered before the Legislature, will help us improve upon the foundation we created in 2004 with New Jersey's 'Patient Safety Act.'

"Because when dealing with matters of life and death, there can be no room for error.

"For more information about this legislation or for help with any other questions you may have, feel free to contact my district office by phone or e-mail."

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