Introduction to medication errors and medication safety

2010 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Molly Courtenay ◽  
Matt Griffiths
Keyword(s):  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety

Improving Medication Safety Through the Use of Metrics

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
Robert D. Beckett ◽  
Marina Yazdi ◽  
Laura J. Hanson ◽  
Ross W. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Safety Information ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Metrics

Purpose: Describe medication safety metrics used at University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) institutions and recommend a meaningful way to report and communicate medication safety information across an organization. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronically distributed, open-ended survey instrument. Results: Twenty percent of the UHC institutions responded to our survey. Seventy-seven percent of those institutions responding to our survey reported their organization has defined metrics to measure medication safety; an additional 21% of the institutions were still in the process of defining metrics. Of metrics that were reported, 33% were true medication safety metrics. Results are distributed to a wide variety of institutional venues. Conclusion: Institutions should take several actions related to medication safety including defining local metrics; building metrics addressing preventable adverse drug events, medication errors, and technology; and reporting results to a variety of venues in order to design specific interventions to improve local medication use.

scholarly journals Medication Safety: Reducing Anesthesia Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events in Dentistry Part 2

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-59
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Sarasin ◽  
Jason W. Brady ◽  
Roy L. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Dental Profession ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Dental Providers ◽  
Preventive Methods

For decades, the dental profession has provided the full spectrum of anesthesia services ranging from local anesthesia to general anesthesia in the office-based ambulatory environment to alleviate pain and anxiety. However, despite a reported record of safety, complications occasionally occur. Two common contributing factors to general anesthesia and sedation complications are medication errors and adverse drug events. The prevention and early detection of these complications should be of paramount importance to all dental providers who administer or otherwise use anesthesia services. Unfortunately, there is a lack of literature currently available regarding medication errors and adverse drug events involving anesthesia for dentistry. As a result, the profession is forced to look to the medical literature regarding these issues not only to assess the likely severity of the problem but also to develop preventive methods specific for general anesthesia and sedation as practiced within dentistry. Part 1 of this 2-part article illuminated the problems of medication errors and adverse drug events, primarily as documented within medicine. Part 2 will focus on how these complications affect dentistry, discuss several of the methods that medical anesthesia has implemented to manage such problems that may have utility in dentistry, and introduce a novel method for addressing these issues within dentistry known as the Dental Anesthesia Medication Safety Paradigm (DAMSP).

scholarly journals Contributing factors that influence medication errors in the prehospital paramedic environment: a mixed-method systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e034094
Author(s):  
Dennis Walker ◽  
Clint Moloney ◽  
Brendan SueSee ◽  
Renee Sharples
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis

IntroductionThere is limited reliable research available on medication errors in relation to paramedic practice, with most evidence-based medication safety guidelines based on research in nursing, operating theatre and pharmacy settings. While similarities exist, evidence suggests that the prehospital environment is distinctly different in many aspects. The prevention of errors requires attention to factors from the organisational and regulatory level down to specific tasks and patient characteristics. The evidence available suggests errors may occur in up to 12.76% of medication administrations in some prehospital settings. With multiple sources stating that the errors are under-reported, this represents significant potential for patient harm. This review will seek to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of medication errors by paramedics in the prehospital environment.Methods and analysisThe review will include qualitative and quantitative studies involving interventions or phenomena regarding medication errors or medication safety relating to paramedics (including emergency medical technicians and other prehospital care providers) within the prehospital environment. A search will be conducted using MEDLINE (Ovid), EBSCOhost Megafile Search, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors trial registry, Google Scholar and the OpenGrey database to identify studies meeting this inclusion criteria, with initial searches commencing 30 September 2019. Studies selected will undergo assessment of methodological quality, with data to be extracted from all studies irrespective of quality. Each stage of study selection, appraisal and data extraction will be conducted by two reviewers, with a third reviewer deciding any unresolved conflicts. The review will follow a convergent integrated approach, conducting a single qualitative synthesis of qualitative and ‘qualitised’ quantitative data.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval was required for this review. Findings from this systematic review will be disseminated via publications, reports and conference presentations.

scholarly journals Strategies for Implementing Pediatric Dose Standardization: Considerations From the Vizient University Health System Consortium Pharmacy Network Pediatric Pharmacy Committee

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Christopher T. Campbell ◽  
Kristin H. Wheatley ◽  
Leanne Svoboda ◽  
Courtney E. Campbell ◽  
Kelley R. Norris
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Institutional Level ◽  
Pediatric Dose ◽  
Reduce Medication Error ◽  
Survey Results

Pediatric patients are at a heightened risk for medication errors due to variability in medication ordering and administration. Dose rounding and standardization have been 2 practices historically used to reduce variability and improve medication safety. This article will describe strategies for implementing pediatric dose standardization. Local practice often dictates the operational decisions made at an institutional level, leading to a lack of a standard methodology. Vizient survey results demonstrate there is wide variation in dose standardization and ready-to-use (RTU) practices although most responding institutions have attempted to limit bedside manipulation to reduce medication error. There are many barriers to consider before pursuing dose standardization at an institution. These include selecting medications to standardize, calculating appropriate standardized doses, preparing RTU products, and supplying the products to the patient. Strategies to overcome implementation issues are described as well as identification of knowledge gaps related to the preparation and use of RTU products in the pediatric population. There is opportunity to enhance an institution's ability to provide RTU medications. Although there are several barriers, those that have had successful implementation have leveraged their information technology systems, garnered multidisciplinary support, and customized their practice to meet their operational demands.

scholarly journals MEDICATION ERROR OVERVIEW AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-24
Keyword(s):  
Medication Error ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Reconciliation Analysis ◽  
Prescribing Medication ◽  
Care Costs ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Safety Strategy

This literature review aims to highlight the overview of medication errors and strategies to avoid and decrease medication errors. Availability of various types of over-the-counter and prescribed medication has added to the risk of medication. Also, the medication chain has different steps, and different people are involved in each step, such as prescribing medication, dispensing, and administering medication. Every phase in the medication chain is prone to risks that can lead to medication errors. Medication safety is the responsibility of every healthcare professional involved in the medication chain to deliver effective and safe care to patients with an optimal outcome. A medication error can happen in every health care setting to decrease and prevent medication errors. It is critically important to have complete knowledge of the medication use chain and integrate evidence-based strategies, such as medication reconciliation, analysis of medication error, double-check, and avoiding interruption and distraction into practice. Medication errors can lead to patient harm, prevent on-time discharges, and increase care costs. Medication safety culture can shine in a setting of effectively applying strategy into practice, and everyone's collaboration and commitment to adhere to medication safety strategy can improve patient safety.

Look-Alike Names and Packages Are at the Root of Most Stocking Errors in Automated Dispensing Cabinets Use Caution when Reconstituting Synagis (Palivizumab) Intrathecal Vincristine Fatal Once More Fellowship in Medication Safety Medication Safety Videos Available Free via the Internet

2003 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-313
Author(s):  
Michael R. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Inservice Training ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Safe Medication ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Procedural Safeguards

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your newsletters and/or presenting them in your inservice training programs. Your assistance is required to continue this feature. The reports described here were received through the USP Medication Errors Reporting Program, which is presented in cooperation with the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. If you have encountered medication errors and would like to report them, you may call USP toll-free, 24 hours a day, at 800–233–7767 (800–23-ERROR). Any reports published by ISMP will be anonymous. Comments are also invited; the writers' names will be published if desired. ISMP may be contacted at the address shown below.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document