SME: Director of Pharmacy
Last Review Date: 6/11/08
All medication errors are identified and reviewed. Measures are taken to:
 | Reduce the likelihood of harm to the patient |
| Prevent a medication error from occurring |
A medication error is defined as follows:
"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. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems including: prescribing, order communication, product labeling, packaging and nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use."
Clinical staff report medication errors as follows:
Step |
Action |
1 |
The staff member who discovers a medication error immediately completes the Medication Error Report online. Note: The report is for administrative purposes only. |
2 |
The form is routed to the Nurse Manager, Risk Management and Pharmacy Director. |
3 |
Determines whether or not the patient has an allergy to the medication given. Note: Notations of known drug allergies are found in Sunrise. |
4 |
Checks the patient for any reactions possibly caused by the drug or dose given. |
5 |
Contacts the pharmacy to determine whether the medication error has a potentiating effect on other medications being taken by the patient. |
6 |
Documents in the medical record the medication administered, any adverse effects, and time of physician notification as appropriate. |
All medication errors are reviewed as part of the performance improvement program as follows:
Step |
Action |
1 |
The Performance Improvement Coordinating Council /P&TCommittee is responsible for reviewing the medication error process. |
Related to regulatory standards
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