07/05/2008: Royal College of Physicians: Rational prescribing: An important challenge for modern medicine

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of efficacious new medications available to treat a whole range of illnesses and diseases. However, there has also been an associated increase in the amount of illnesses caused by adverse drug events, partly attributable to their expected pharmacological effects but also in large part due to prescribing errors. These errors are multifactorial in origin but, whatever their causes, account for significant morbidity and mortality in the UK, as well as carrying significant financial implications (time off work, healthcare costs including unnecessary hospital admissions and extension of inpatient stay).

This conference will address the causes of prescribing errors, how these may be addressed and, in particular, will demonstrate the importance of sound education in the principles of pharmacology to underpin safe prescribing. At the end of the conference, delegates will have a sound understanding of important reasons for adverse drug events and how these may better be avoided in the future.

Audience: This conference is aimed at physicians and physicians in training; other healthcare professionals who undertake prescribing (including pharmacist and nurse prescribers); those interested in understanding and preventing harm from medicines.

CPD code: 41209

Conference Organiser: RCP Conference Department

For further information on the programme and booking click here