Errors in medicine administration: how can they be minimised?
Errors in medicine administration often go unnoticed and unreported. This article describes three medicine-related errors and provides recommendations to reduce risk. All medicine-related errors should be reported locally and to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) so that they can be collated and trends identified. Electronic prescribing and patient/medicine identification by bar codes, double checking and using colour coded syringes for intravenous and enteral administration, employing more clinical pharmacists and regular education may reduce medicine-related errors.
Venkatraman
Ramya
R
Royal London Hospital, London.
Durai
Rajaraman
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; D005260:Female; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology