Medication Errors
Medication Errors: A Literature Review your name here
Pharmacology 2 teachers name here
September 17 2008
The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists define a medication error as “episodes of drug misadventure that should be preventable through effective systems controls involving pharmacists, physicians and other prescribers, nurses, risk management personnel, legal counsel, administrators, patients and others in the organizational setting, as well as regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry” (Armitage, G., & Knapman, H. 2003 ).This paper shall discuss the various causes of, and methods for the prevention of medical errors. In looking at this important and complex topic it is hoped that healthcare providers will be made aware of situations and conditions that have the potential to lead to medication errors. With an expanded knowledge of this the healthcare provider will be better equipped to prevent a medication error from occurring. A reduction of medication errors is highly desirable so that the patient’s quality of care is at the highest level, and any adverse effects due to medication are minimized to the fullest extent. In the first article reviewed, Adverse events in drug administration, the topic discussed is the causes of medication errors. The article first defines a medication error and then discusses problems with establishing an accurate count of medication errors “the issue of under reporting ... is due to either a lack of appreciation that an error has occurred; the error is not considered serious enough to report; or ... there is a reluctance to report” (Armitage, G., & Knapman, H. 2003). Many of the situations environments, and conditions that facilitate the occurrence of medication errors are discussed in the remainder of the paper. The second paper reviewed, Nature of preventable adverse drug events in hospitals, firstly deals with the frequency of medication errors “The reported median frequency
Pharmacology 2 teachers name here
September 17 2008
The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists define a medication error as “episodes of drug misadventure that should be preventable through effective systems controls involving pharmacists, physicians and other prescribers, nurses, risk management personnel, legal counsel, administrators, patients and others in the organizational setting, as well as regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry” (Armitage, G., & Knapman, H. 2003 ).This paper shall discuss the various causes of, and methods for the prevention of medical errors. In looking at this important and complex topic it is hoped that healthcare providers will be made aware of situations and conditions that have the potential to lead to medication errors. With an expanded knowledge of this the healthcare provider will be better equipped to prevent a medication error from occurring. A reduction of medication errors is highly desirable so that the patient’s quality of care is at the highest level, and any adverse effects due to medication are minimized to the fullest extent. In the first article reviewed, Adverse events in drug administration, the topic discussed is the causes of medication errors. The article first defines a medication error and then discusses problems with establishing an accurate count of medication errors “the issue of under reporting ... is due to either a lack of appreciation that an error has occurred; the error is not considered serious enough to report; or ... there is a reluctance to report” (Armitage, G., & Knapman, H. 2003). Many of the situations environments, and conditions that facilitate the occurrence of medication errors are discussed in the remainder of the paper. The second paper reviewed, Nature of preventable adverse drug events in hospitals, firstly deals with the frequency of medication errors “The reported median frequency