Medication errors with opioids: Results from a national reporting system

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sydney Morss Dy, MD, MSc ◽  
Andrew D. Shore, PhD ◽  
Rodney W. Hicks, PhD, ARNP ◽  
Laura L. Morlock, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Error Reporting ◽  
Patient Controlled Analgesia ◽  
Medication Error Reporting ◽  
Wrong Drug ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
National Reporting System ◽  
Quality Improvement Programs ◽  
Inpatient Units ◽  
Omission Errors ◽  
Drug Errors

Background: Errors may be more common and more likely to be harmful with opioids than with other medications, but little research has been conducted on these errors.Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed MEDMARX®, an anonymous national medication error reporting database, and quantitatively described harmful opioid errors on inpatient units that did not involve devices such as patient-controlled analgesia. The authors compared patterns among opioids and qualitatively analyzed error descriptions to help explain the quantitative results.Results: The authors included 644 harmful errors from 222 facilities. Eighty-three percent caused only temporary harm; 60 percent were administration errors and 21 percent prescribing errors; and 23 percent caused underdosing and 52 percent overdosing. Morphine and hydromorphone had a significantly higher proportion of improper dose errors than other opioids (40 percent and 41 percent compared with 22 percent with meperidine). Hydromorphone errors were significantly more likely to be overdoses (78 percent vs 47 percent with other opioids). Omission errors were significantly more common with fentanyl patches (36 percent compared with 12 percent for other opioids). Wrong route errors were significantly more common with meperidine (given intravenously when prescribed as intramuscular, 34 percent vs 3 percent for morphine). Oxycodone errors were significantly more likely to be wrong drug errors (24 percent vs 11 percent for other opioids), often because of confusion between immediate- and sustained-release formulations.Conclusions: Reported opioid errors are usually associated with administration and prescribing and frequently cause uncontrolled pain as well as overdoses. These patterns of errors should be considered when using opioids and incorporated into pain guidelines, education, and quality improvement programs.

The Rate and Costs Attributable to Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia Errors

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Meissner ◽  
Winnie Nelson ◽  
Rodney (Rod) Hicks ◽  
Vanja Sikirica ◽  
Josh Gagne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Error Reporting ◽  
Patient Controlled Analgesia ◽  
System Perspective ◽  
Medication Error Reporting ◽  
The Us ◽  
Integrated Health

Purpose To estimate the rates and costs of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) errors from the hospital or integrated health system perspective. Methods This study used a cost-accounting methodology to estimate the costs attributable to IV PCA errors in the United States. Data for the study were obtained from the MEDMARX and Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) datasets, published literature, and expert opinions. MEDMARX is a voluntary, anonymous, medication-error-reporting database owned and operated by the United States Pharmacopeia. MAUDE is a mandatory, device-error-reporting database maintained by the US Food and Drug Administration. Levels of care rendered as a result of the IV PCA errors were estimated by applying clinical assumptions (validated by an expert advisory panel) to each of the 7 error consequences considered in this analysis. Variable and opportunity costs (2006 values) were considered, including medication, laboratory, lost revenue, and labor. The corresponding costs were applied to the error consequences to derive the estimated mean cost for each error cause. The numbers of errors documented in each dataset and the published literature were used to extrapolate the rate of IV PCA errors annually. Results The average cost per error event was $733 in the MEDMARX dataset and $552 in the MAUDE dataset. Harmful IV PCA errors were 120 to 250 times more costly than nonharmful errors. The annual error rates were estimated as 407 IV PCA-related errors and 17 device-related errors per 10,000 people within the United States. Conclusion: Analysis of 2 datasets, MEDMARX and MAUDE, revealed that IV PCA medication- and device-related errors are costly to hospitals and integrated health systems and represent a significant burden on the US health system. This study provided a novel approach to estimating the associated costs of undesired IV PCA-related events. Additional research is needed to validate the methodology (as applied to this area) and results.

Description of the role of pharmacist independent double checks during cognitive order verification of outpatient parenteral anti-cancer therapy

2021 ◽  
pp. 107815522199431
Author(s):  
Jennifer P Booth ◽  
Julie M Kennerly-Shah ◽  
Amber D Hartman
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Medication Error ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Error Reporting ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Medication Error Reporting ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Secondary Endpoints ◽  
Type Frequency

Introduction To describe pharmacist interventions as a result of an independent double check during cognitive order verification of outpatient parenteral anti-cancer therapy. Methods A single-center, retrospective analysis of all individual orders for outpatient, parenteral anti-cancer agents within a hematology/oncology infusion center during a 30 day period was conducted. The primary endpoint was error identification rates during first and second verification. Secondary endpoints included the type, frequency, and severity of errors identified during second verification using a modified National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention Index. Results A total of 1970 anti-cancer parenteral orders were screened, from which 1645 received an independent double check and were included. The number of errors identified during first and second verification were 30 (1.8%) and 10 (0.6%) respectively; second verification resulted in a 33.3% increase in corrected errors. The 10 errors identified during second verification included: four rate transcriptions to optimize pump interoperability, three rate and/or volume modifications, two dosage adjustments, and one treatment deferral due to toxicity. The severity was classified as Category A for four (40%), Category C for three (30%), and Category D for three (30%) errors. This correlated to a low capacity for harm for seven (70%) and a serious capacity for three (30%) errors. Conclusions Second verification of outpatient, parenteral anti-cancer medication orders resulted in a 33.3% increase in corrected errors. Three errors detected during second verification were determined to have a serious capacity for harm, supporting the value of independent double checks during pharmacist cognitive order verification.

Addressing Communication Breakdowns during Emergency Care Transitions of Older Adults: Evaluation of a Standardized Inter-Facility Health Care Communication Form

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Patrick McLane ◽  
Kaitlyn Tate ◽  
R. Colin Reid ◽  
Brian H. Rowe ◽  
Carole Estabrooks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Persons ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Care Transitions ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Usual Practice ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Quality Improvement Programs ◽  
Communication Breakdowns

Abstract Transitions for older persons from long-term care (LTC) to the emergency department (ED) and back, can result in adverse events. Effective communication among care settings is required to ensure continuity of care. We implemented a standardized form for improving consistency of documentation during LTC to ED transitions of residents 65 years of age or older, via emergency medical services (EMS), and back. Data on form use and form completion were collected through chart review. Practitioners’ perspectives were collected using surveys. The form was used in 90/244 (37%) LTC to ED transitions, with large variation in data element completion. EMS and ED reported improved identification of resident information. LTC personnel preferred usual practice to the new form and twice reported prioritizing form completion before calling 911. To minimize risk of harmful unintended consequences, communication forms should be implemented as part of broader quality improvement programs, rather than as stand-alone interventions.

Trying to Improve Care: The Morbidity and Mortality Conference in a Division of Rheumatology

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 2452-2458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Batthish ◽  
Shirley M.L. Tse ◽  
Brian M. Feldman ◽  
G. Ross Baker ◽  
Ronald M. Laxer
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Test Procedure ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Error Reporting ◽  
Descriptive Data ◽  
Medication Error Reporting ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality Conference ◽  
System Improvement ◽  
Sick Children ◽  
Mortality Conference

Objective.To describe the frequency and types of reported adverse events and system improvement recommendations in the Morbidity and Mortality Conference (M&MC) within the Division of Rheumatology at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (SickKids).Methods.A 5-year retrospective review of the M&MC within the Division of Rheumatology at SickKids was completed. Descriptive data including the number and types of events reported were collected. Events were categorized using an adaptation of the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention Index. Recommendations were classified according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada.Results.Between January 2007 and December 2011, 30 regularly scheduled M&MC were held. Eighty-three cases were reviewed. The most common types of reported events were related to “miscommunication” (34.9%), “treatment/test/procedure” (22.9%), “adverse drug reactions” (12.0%), and “medication errors” (8.4%). Category A events (“an event that has the capacity to cause error”) were the most common with 39.8% of the cases, followed by Category C events (“an event occurred that reached the patient, but did not cause harm”) with 28.9%. Eighty-nine recommendations were made. Over half of these were classified as “information” (58.4%), followed by 11 “rules and policies” recommendations (12.4%). Of the 36 action items generated from these recommendations, most are either complete or ongoing.Conclusion.The M&MC within the Division of Rheumatology reviews a variety of events. Increased reporting of adverse events can lead to system improvements, and has the potential to improve and promote safer healthcare.

Effectiveness of Multifaceted Hospitalwide Quality Improvement Programs Featuring an Intervention to Remove Unnecessary Urinary Catheters at a Tertiary Care Center in Thailand

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 791-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anucha Apisarnthanarak ◽  
Kanokporn Thongphubeth ◽  
Sirinaj Sirinvaravong ◽  
Danai Kitkangvan ◽  
Chananart Yuekyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Hospital Costs ◽  
Urinary Catheterization ◽  
Urinary Catheters ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Improvement Programs ◽  
Intervention Team ◽  
Quality Improvement Programs

Objective.To evaluate the efficacy of a multifaceted hospitalwide quality improvement program that featured an intervention to remind physicians to remove unnecessary urinary catheters.Methods.A hospitalwide preintervention-postintervention study was conducted over 2 years (July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2006). The intervention consisted of nurse-generated daily reminders that were used by an intervention team to remind physicians to remove unnecessary urinary catheters, beginning 3 days after insertion. Clinical, microbiological, pharmaceutical, and cost data were collected.Results.A total of 2,412 patients were enrolled in the study. No differences were found in the demographic and/or clinical characteristics of patients between the preintervention and postintervention periods. After the intervention, reductions were found in the rate of inappropriate urinary catheterization (mean rate, preintervention vs postintervention, 20.4% vs 11% [P = .04]), the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CA-UTI) (mean rate, 21.5 vs 5.2 infections per 1,000 catheter-days [P <.001]), the duration of urinary catheterization (mean, 11 vs 3 days [P < .001]), and the total length of hospitalization (mean, 16 vs 5 days [P < .001]). A linear relationship was seen between the monthly average duration of catheterization and the rate of CA-UTI (r = 0.89; P < .001). The intervention had the greatest impact on the rate of CA-UTI in the intensive care units (mean rate, preintervention vs postintervention, 23.4 vs 3.5 infections per 1,000 catheter-days [P = .01]). The monthly hospital costs for antibiotics to treat CA-UTI were reduced by 63% (mean, $3,739 vs $1,378 [P < .001]), and the hospitalization cost for each patient during the intervention was reduced by 58% (mean, $366 vs $154 [P < .001]).Conclusions.This study suggests that a multifaceted intervention to remind physicians to remove unnecessary urinary catheters can significantly reduced the duration of urinary catheterization and the CA-UTI rate in a hospital in a developing country.

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