Posted: September 5th, 2022

Medication Errors

Medication Errors
A medication error is defined as any preventable medical event that can result in or have the potential to cause harm to the patient. Medication errors are the most common types of medical errors. They can occur at any stage throughout the treatment process, from the time of ordering the medication to the time of administration. The consequences of medication errors can range from mild side effects like a temporal rash to very serious medical complications such as paralysis and even death. In the United States, approximately 7000 to 9000 deaths each year result from medication errors. The cost of extended hospital stays and the purchase of drugs used to treat medication-related complications exceed 40 billion each year.
Medication errors fall into six general categories.
Prescribing errors- Involve wrong drug selection based on indications, contraindications, existing drug therapy, allergies, and other factors that may affect the drug’s performance. It may also involve the form and quantity of the dose, wrong route of administration, concentration levels, administration rate, and other wrong prescriptions that can cause harm.
Omission errors- It is the failure to administer a dose to a patient as scheduled or as indicated in the prescription. The failure of administration excludes refusal from the patient or any medical intervention stopping the administration.
Dosage errors- It is the administration of a higher or lower dose than the appropriate amount needed to treat or manage the patient’s condition. For instance, when one more or one less unit is added or deducted from the ordered units during administration.
Preparation errors. This occurs early during the manufacturing process. For instance, when too much or too little diluting solution is used or when the wrong combination of chemical elements is used in the drug creation process.
Administering errors- Involves inappropriate procedure or technique when administering the drug. For instance, the wrong route of administration, like Ingesting a drug intended for external purposes only.
Wrong time error- It the administration of the correct drugs outside the pre-defined time frame when the drug should be used. Every drug has a different time frame and should be determined by qualified health care personnel.
Medication errors can happen to any person and can involve even the most qualified health care personnel. Medication errors are avoidable. Preventing and lowering medication errors requires joint efforts from all players in the treatment process, including the patients. Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals should also work closely to stop medication errors. Patients should also normalize asking and airing any concerns regarding their medications.

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