Dispensing error rate in a highly automated mail-service pharmacy practice.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the rate of dispensing errors and to identify the types and sources of dispensing errors in a highly automated mail-service pharmacy practice.


METHODS
Descriptive analysis of a random sample of completed prescriptions.


METHODS
A high-volume mail-service pharmacy practice comprising a network of prescription processing and dispensing pharmacies in the United States.


RESULTS
During September and October 2003, new and refill prescriptions were retrieved before shipping and evaluated for dispensing accuracy. Container contents were compared against the container label, and the label record was compared against the original prescription order. The overall dispensing error rate was 0.075% (16 dispensing errors among 21,252 prescriptions, 95% confidence interval 0.043-0.122). Fourteen errors involved incomplete or incorrect directions on the final label. All dispensing errors were associated with the initial stages of prescription processing (including order entry); no errors were associated with the mechanical stages of product dispensing.


CONCLUSIONS
A highly automated mail-service pharmacy can achieve a dispensing error rate of less than 1 error/1000 prescriptions, which is substantially lower than the rates reported for retail pharmacies. A high degree of automation in the mechanical aspects of dispensing appears to be a key factor in achieving this high dispensing accuracy.
Teagarden
J Russell
JR
Department of Medical Affairs, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., Franklin Lakes and Willingboro, New Jersey 07417, USA. russell_teagarden@medco.com
Nagle
Becky
B
Aubert
Ronald E
RE
Wasdyke
Calvin
C
Courtney
Patrick
P
Epstein
Robert S
RS
D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services; D011177:Postal Service