Utilisation of Neonatal Medication Error Prevention Strategies: A Clinical Practice Survey of Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Units

2018 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 88-89
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Medication Error ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Error Prevention ◽  
Practice Survey ◽  
Medication Error Prevention

scholarly journals Utilization of neonatal medication error prevention strategies: a clinical practice survey of Australian and New Zealand neonatal units

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 609-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Matti ◽  
Minh-Nha R. Nguyen ◽  
Cassandra Mosel ◽  
Luke E. Grzeskowiak
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Medication Error ◽  
Medication Administration ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Error Prevention ◽  
Practice Survey ◽  
Clinical Pharmacists ◽  
Medication Error Prevention

Background: Medication errors are common in neonatal care and can lead to significant harm. We sought to explore utilization of various medication error prevention strategies across Australian and New Zealand neonatal units (NNUs) through a clinical practice survey. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed in October 2016 to relevant staff at each of the 29 level III NNUs identified as members of the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN). The survey contained questions relating to a range of medication error prevention strategies identified from a previous systematic review on the topic. The evaluated interventions targeted different aspects of the medication-use process including prescribing, evaluation/checking of orders by clinical pharmacists, transmission, preparation and dispensing of orders, storage of medications, and medication administration. Results: From the 20 respondents, the evidence-based strategies most commonly utilized were use of smart pumps ( n = 18; 90%), and ward-based clinical pharmacists ( n = 17; 85%). Interventions least commonly utilized included barcode scanning with medication administration ( n = 0; 0%), electronic prescribing and clinical decision support ( n = 1; 5%), and dedicated medication administration nurse ( n = 2; 10%). The total number of evidence-based medication error prevention strategies utilized in each NNU ranged from 2 to 10 (median = 7), 10 of 16 strategies were utilized by less than 50% of NNUs. Conclusion: While evidence supports utilization of a number of medication error prevention strategies, these appear inconsistently utilized across current practice settings.

scholarly journals Medication Errors: Scope and prevention strategies

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Brunetti ◽  
Dong-Churl Suh
Keyword(s):  
Medication Error ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Error Prevention ◽  
Integration Of Technology ◽  
Significant Public Health Concern ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Safety Systems ◽  
Improve Patient

Background: Medication errors are a significant public health concern.  Although significant advances have been made, errors are still relatively common and represent an opportunity for healthcare improvement.Methodology/Principal Findings: Since the publication of To Err is Human, medication errors have been under tremendous scrutiny.  Organizations have moved towards a non-punitive approach to evaluating errors.  This approach to medication errors has aided in identifying common pathways to medication errors and improving understanding regarding the anatomy of a medication error.  As a result, prevention strategies have been developed to target common themes contributing to errors.  Error prevention strategies may target common contributors of medication errors, broadly grouped as performance lapses, lack of knowledge, and lack or failure of safety systems.  Strategies to thwart medication errors range from process improvement to integration of technology in the health care environment.Conclusions/Significance:  Organizations should devote resources to address medication error prevention strategies in an effort to improve patient outcomes and decrease morbidity and mortality associated with medication errors.

Verifying Medication Orders in the Older Population: Are We Using Enough Caution?

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 182-186
Author(s):  
Ali Scrimenti ◽  
Luke A. Probst ◽  
Christopher D. Miller ◽  
Kelly R. Ulen ◽  
John Noviasky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Medication Error ◽  
Drug Information ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Error Prevention ◽  
Attitudinal Differences ◽  
Medication Error Prevention

OBJECTIVE: To test the common hypothesis that pharmacists may use more caution and resources when processing pediatric versus geriatric medication orders in the hospital setting.<br/> DESIGN: A 26-item electronic survey was distributed to a sample of participating academic medical-center pharmacy directors with the request to disseminate it to staff pharmacists. The survey was resent at two-week intervals on two occasions.<br/> MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): To identify if pharmacists take more caution when processing geriatric or pediatric medication orders, to characterize the frequency pharmacists use drug information resources when processing these orders, and to assess the level of importance pharmacists place on guidelines for medication error prevention when processing medication orders.<br/> RESULTS: A total of 173 out of 271 pharmacists completed the survey, resulting in a high final completion rate of 63.8%. Most were clinical, residencytrained pharmacists. A majority of respondents stated that they take more caution when verifying pediatric medication orders than they do for orders for older people (125 out of 172, or 72.7%). Pharmacists report they were 4.2 times more likely to refer to a drug information resource for ≥ 50% of pediatric orders versus geriatric orders (pediatric: 118 out of 171, or 69.0% vs. geriatric: 59 out of 172, or 34.3%; P < 0.001, or 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.156 [2.647-6.524]). Finally, pharmacists familiar with the guidelines for medication error prevention were 2.3 times more likely to state the pediatric guidelines were very important (pediatric: 51/171, or 29.8% vs. geriatric: 27/172, or 15.7%; P = 0.002, or 95% CI 2.28 [1.35-3.86]).<br/> CONCLUSION: This survey reveals evidence for attitudinal differences in work practices for pharmacists working with medication orders relating to different age groups. Given the challenges involved in drug treatment for the older patient population, a similar level of caution, preparedness to refer to drug information, and to use guidelines should apply for both pediatric medication orders and those for older people, in order to provide safe and comprehensive care.

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