- Ten percent of all deaths in the United States are due to medication errors.
- Medication errors are the third highest cause of death in the United States.
Despite these frightening statistics, researchers believe that medication errors are underreported in the United States.
WHAT IS A MEDICATION ERROR?
- Failing to give the patient their medication
- Failing to give the patient their medication often enough
- Failing to give the proper dosage of medication
- Failing to give medication properly (ill, liquid, IV, Muscularly)
- Giving the wrong medication
- Giving a medication the patient is allergic to
- Giving the medication at the wrong time
WHY DO MEDICATION ERRORS HAPPEN?
- A doctor mistakenly prescribes the wrong medication
- A doctor mistakenly prescribes the wrong dosage
- A nurse mistakenly gives the wrong medication
- A nurse mistakenly gives the wrong dosage
- The pharmacy mistakenly gives the wrong medication
- Poor Communication between providers
- Poor training
- Not enough staff
- Abuse
- Poor record keeping as to what medication was prescribed, when it was given, why it was given and how it was given
- Theft of prescription drugs by the caregiver due to a drug addiction or to sell for profit
INJURIES CAUSED BY MEDICATION ERRORS
- Death
- Heart Attack
- Blood Clots
- Stroke
- Untreated Illness
- Unnecessary Pain and Suffering
- Worsening of many types of Infections
- Loss of a Chance of a Cure