Reported medication errors in obstetric inpatients in 1 hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To describe reported medication errors in the obstetric inpatients in 1 hospital.


METHODS
We analyzed all errors, reported voluntarily in a nonpunitive manner, from December 1996 to November 2001.


RESULTS
The 164 medication errors led to 154 class 1 (no harm), 10 class 2 (additional therapy but no additional harm) and 0 class 3 (permanent harm) adverse drug events. Omissions and incorrect timing of drug administration were the most common reasons. The rate of class 1 adverse drug events was lower in labor and delivery than on the ward (0.8 versus 1.4 per 1,000 patient days; P < .05). Excess dosing with intravenous magnesium sulfate was the most common class 2 event.


CONCLUSIONS
Reported medication errors on 1 inpatient obstetric service were very rare and not associated with permanent harm. Reporting these errors may identify system improvements and avoid recurrences.
Little
James A
JA
Office of Quality and Outcomes Management, University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA. jlittle@salud.unm.edu
Velazquez
Maria B
MB
Rayburn
William F
WF
D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009516:New Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care