Medication Errors Blog #2

Did you know..... that medication Errors do not only occur within hospital settings, but they can occur in your home as well or at a skilled nursing home facility too!  Serious harmful results of medication errors may include: death, life threatening situation, hospitalization, disability, or birth defects (Center for Drug Control Evaluation and Research). 

Practicing safety is best at your organization, home, and around others!!! 

What can you do, as the patient? 

1. Be your own advocate! SPEAK UP!                                     
2. Always carry an up to date list of medications with you!
3. Ask your provider about education of the medication!
4. ???? ASK QUESTIONS ????
5. Always make sure the nurse is checking their 5 rights to medication prior to giving it
6. Make SAFETY A HABIT, even at home (2020)
• store medications in their original bottles 
• keep organized 
• save the information sheets that come with your prescriptions 
• use the same pharmacy for all of your prescriptions
• when picking up a medication, check that it is the one your doctor ordered 
• never take anyone else's medication; never give your medication to anyone else
• when taking multiple medications, check bottles to make sure you're taking right medication and right dose (2020).

What to do if this happens to you: 

• DO call your physician and seek medical attention 
• DO report unusual symptoms 
• SPEAK UP! 
• DON'T treat yourself 
• DO save the bottles to prove an error. (Danois, 2017)
• Report suspected medication errors to MedWatch (Center for Drug Control Evaluation and Research)

Resources to help you: 

*Use these websites to help you in understanding more about medication errors and if this happens to you what you can do. They provide tips and ways to help you prevent medication errors. 

20 Tips To Help Prevent Medical Errors: Patient Fact Sheet | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ahrq.gov)

How to Prevent Medical Errors: A 10-Step Guide for Doctors and Patients | Mesothelioma Law Firm (sokolovelaw.com)

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/working-reduce-medication-errors#

Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe. | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ahrq.gov)

www.consumermedsafety.org    

 Resources: 

Danois, D.L. (2017, February 25). Right Drug, Wrong Dose? What to do if You've Been Given the Wrong Medication. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/post_11050_b_9252586.    

Center for Drug Control Evaluation and Research. (n.d.). Working to reduce medication errors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients-drugs/working-reduce-medication-errors    

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020, September 3). Protect yourself from medication errors. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/medication-errors/art-20048035