Joint Commission IDs five high-alert meds.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has issued a bulletin listing "high-alert" medications that have the highest risk of causing injury when misused. The five high-alert medications are insulin, opiates and narcotics, injectable potassium chloride (or phosphate) concentrate, intravenous anticoagulants (heparin), and sodium chloride solutions above 0.9%. The Joint Commission recommends strategies such as a system that confirms the correct drug, dosage, patient, time, and route.