WILLOW GROVE, PA — The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), a subsidiary of ECRI, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance the agency’s ability to detect, analyze, and prevent medication errors that can lead to patient harm.
Under the agreement, ISMP will collaborate with the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) to improve postmarket drug surveillance and identify systemic factors contributing to medication errors. The partnership aims to translate real-world safety data into actionable prevention strategies for healthcare systems nationwide.
As part of its work with the FDA, ISMP will provide access to anonymous reports from its national medication error reporting programs, conduct detailed safety analyses, and deliver customized surveillance reports in response to emerging concerns. The organization will also alert the FDA to developing trends and provide expert consultation on risk mitigation strategies.
“For years, ISMP has served as the unofficial ‘eyes and ears’ of the FDA with regards to medication safety,” said Rita K. Jew, PharmD, MBA, BCPPS, FASHP, president of ISMP. “We are honored to further support FDA’s mission by sharing our expertise in identifying risks early and guiding effective, system-based prevention strategies across care settings.”
“Medication errors remain one of the most persistent and preventable sources of harm in healthcare,” said Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ECRI. “Preventing these errors demands a culture of vigilance, powered by data-driven insights and cross-industry collaborations including the FDA and patient safety leaders like ECRI and ISMP. We are proud to continue our legacy as a partner to the FDA in improving the safety of healthcare.”
ISMP’s multidisciplinary team—including pharmacists, nurses, and clinicians—works alongside ECRI subject matter experts to develop data-driven recommendations that inform national safety standards. Together, the organizations operate the ECRI and ISMP Patient Safety Organization (PSO), which leverages one of the largest adverse event datasets in healthcare.
The collaboration builds on ISMP’s long-standing role as a trusted partner to the FDA and reinforces a shared commitment to advancing medication safety through evidence-based practice and continuous system improvement.
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