MEDICATION ERROR, ITS TYPES AND PREVENTION

This document details about medication error, its types , prevention and focusing more on various administration errors and its types.

1. MEDICATION ERROR DR. AHANA HAROON CLINICAL PHARMACIST

2. MEDICATION ERROR As per NCC MERP (National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention) , A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.

3. TYPES OF MEDICATION ERROR AS PER ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists)

4. DRUG ADMINISTRATION ERRORS OMISSION ERRORS Failure to administer prescribed drug/ dose to a patient WRONG TIME ERRORS Deviation from prescribed timing of an ordered drug UNAUTHORISED DRUG ERROR IMPROPER DOSE ERRORS Administration of dose greater or lesser than the amount prescribed WRONG DOSAGE FORM ERROR Administration of a drug product in different dosage form from that prescribed

5. WRONG DRUG PREPARATION ERROR Incorrectly formulated or manipulated before administration WRONG ADMINISTRATION ERRORS Inappropriate procedure or improper technique in the administration of the drug DETERIORATED DRUG ERRORS Administration of drug that has expired MONITORING ERROR Failure to review a prescribed regimen for appropriateness or failure to assess response to prescribed therapy COMPLIANCE ERROR Failure of patient to adhere to the prescribed medication regimen

6. OTHER POSSIBLE DRUG ADMINISTRATION ERRORS Failure to check drug allergy and own medicines Errors due to LASA medicines Crushing “DO NOT CRUSH” tablets Errors with vasoactive agents (Uncontrolled administration) Tubing/ catheter misconnection Side puncturing (Air embolism, Contamination) Improper dilution Multi vial issues

7. Prevention of medication error Review floor stock to exclude expired drugs Use of proper labelling of drugs LASA drugs stored separately Perform double check while prescribing, dispensing and administering the drugs The 5R’s should be confirmed before administering the drugs to patient (Right drug, Right dose, Right route, Right time, Right patient) Patient education

8. REMEMBER… Clarify prescription, if having any doubts Be knowledgeable about the drug you administer Keep the narcotics under double lock If cloudy or precipitated ampoule/ vial return to pharmacy Ensure safety of high alert medicines Stay with patient until he takes the medicine Report all medication errors for prevention of future occurrence