Preventing Medication Errors

Medication errors result to punishment, loss of professional prestige and legal action. Those were the reasons why there is underreporting of medication errors. “Many institutions have decided to address medication errors like any other Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement issue.” They tried to find out what went wrong, learn from the mistakes and try to prevent medication errors.

There are three highlighted areas to improve to prevent medication errors.

• First is to encourage your patient to ensure safe care by cooperating. There should be a Nurse-Patient Relationship. Also, educate them about the medication and make them understand its purpose and action.

• Second is to employ technology. Providers need access to point-of-care IT such as internet, PDA and electronic records or prescription (EHR). These eliminate the potential for miscommunications due to handwriting.

• Lastly, reduce confusion caused by similar names and packaging. In addition, eliminate abbreviations and acronyms that can result misinterpretation.

One more important thing is to follow the 10RIGHTS in giving medications.