In the realm of healthcare, medication errors stand out as a serious challenge. These can occur at various stages, ranging from prescription to administration.
Understanding the most common types of medication errors and problems is important for anyone, including patients.
Prescription problems
Prescribing the wrong medication or dosage is an error that can stem from messy handwriting, confusion in drug names or miscalculations. The results of these errors can range from ineffectiveness of treatment to severe adverse health effects.
Lack of attention to detail
Meeting medication requests requires attention to detail. Errors in dosage can lead to serious health complications. Healthcare workers must make sure to follow instructions. This includes checking your identity and cross-referencing the medication with the prescription.
Dispensing issues
Pharmacists play a large role in patient care by dispensing medications accurately. However, providing the wrong medication or incorrect dosage can happen due to misinterpretation of prescriptions or problems with the computer system. Professionals checking for problems while in the pharmacy is important to prevent these issues.
Bad communication
Effective communication among healthcare professionals is important for your safety. Clear and direct exchange of information, especially during handovers or transitions of care, is important for everyone involved. With 7,000 to 9,000 Americans dying every year due to medication errors, doctors knowing or checking every patient’s individual care plan is important.
Acknowledging common types of medication errors is the first step many professionals need to take. Healthcare professionals should work collectively to reduce errors and uphold the highest standards of patient care.