Medications are used to treat a variety of conditions, diseases and symptoms. But unfortunately, many medications have harmful side effects and many medications are also harmful or deadly if taken with other substances or taken in quantities that are too large. As a result, medication safety officers work to create policies that reduce or eliminate many of the dangers of medication usage so that patients can use medication safely. Medication safety officers work with pharmacists, nurses and medical information system managers to create programs that will minimize mistakes that harm patients. They do such things as keep track of patient allergies to medications and devise information campaigns to inform patients about potential dangers of medications, according to Scripps Health. These officers are primarily concerned with accurate and timely reporting of adverse drug effects so patients are not accidentally given harmful medications and so that further research can be done on effects caused by the medications. The medication safety officer is responsible for informing all physicians and nurses about these discoveries.

A bachelor’s degree in pharmacy is required to become a medication safety officer. The officer must also have a current pharmacy license from his state. The medication safety officer then usually participates in the Medication Use Pharmacy Residency Program, which instructs pharmacists on safety policies and on advances in medicine delivery technology.

On a regular basis, the medication safety officer has to review the latest information by reading safety bulletins, alerts and medication management system publictions. Communication skills are neccessary, since the medicaiton safety officer will have to interact with both patients and health care professions. Medication safety officers must be highly detail-oriented and have excellent analytical skills.