Joanne G. Kowiatek, R.Ph., M.P.M., is Pharmacy Manager, Medication Patient Safety at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her 31 years of hospital pharmacy experience involves all aspects of pharmacy operations management, including centralized and decentralized pharmacy services, and operating room pharmacy satellites. Ms. Kowiatek has expertise in medication patient safety, regulatory compliance, medication control and security, policy preparation and review, and emergency medication distribution. In her current role, of the past 8 years, she is responsible to identify and implement best practices for medication safety, analyze current practices that contribute to medication errors and take proactive steps to prevent errors before they occur. She manages medication error reporting, investigates to determine root cause and recommends process and system improvements working closely with Risk Management/Patient Safety Department, physicians, administrators, nursing, and the Patient Safety Committee.
Ms. Kowiatek is an adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Pharmacy where she teaches medication safety and regulatory compliance. Ms. Kowiatek has authored three book chapters. Ms. Kowiatek is a member of ASHP Foundation's Award for Excellence in Medication-Use Safety Advisory/Selection Panel. She is a member of Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Advisory Board for the Nurse Advise-ERR, a monthly nursing newsletter. Ms. Kowiatek is a 2005 award recipient of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Annual Cheers Award, which honors individuals, organizations, and
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