The CareFusion Foundation (San Diego) awarded $500,000 in grant funding to 11 U.S. nonprofit healthcare institutions as part of its second annual Clinical Excellence Grant Program. The institutions will receive grants of up to $50,000 based on programs that develop and share best practices in improving medication safety and efficiency.

"The proper management of medications – from the physician order to the pharmacy to the nursing station to the patient bedside – is a critical issue for health care institutions nationwide," said Carlos Nunez, CMO for CareFusion. "Working with these nonprofit partners to develop and share best practices for medication management will advance the field at large and help providers deliver safer, more cost-effective care."

After focusing on infection prevention in its first year, the Clinical Excellence Grant Program this year sought proposals for improving medication safety and efficiency, including reducing medication errors, improving clinician workflow, increasing pharmacy efficiency and driving medication use compliance. Together, through both grant cycles, the CareFusion Foundation awarded $1 million to advancing healthcare best practices. //