- Pharmacist
- 2.0
- 9/6/2022
- 9/6/2025
- Knowledge
- 0669-0000-22-035-H05-P
- Patient Safety
- 20-943412
- Identify and define medication errors
- Identify the root causes of medication errors
- Describe and know how to reduce and prevent medication errors
- Identify and Describe the pharmacist’s role in educating patients to help patients participate in preventing medication errors
I. Introduction
II. Medication Errors: Definition and Scope
III. Types of Medication Errors
1. Prescribing Errors
2. Transcription Errors
3. Preparation and Administration Errors
4. Dispensing and Monitoring Errors
IV. High-Alert Medications
V. Root Causes of Medication Errors
1. Lack of Training or Education
2. Unavailability of Guidelines for Medication Administration
3. Interruptions
4. Fragmentation of Medication Information and Poor Communication
5. Failure to Follow the Rights of Medication Administration
6. Time Constraints
VI. Medication Error Reduction Strategies
1. Standardized Medication Use Protocols
2. Computerized Systems
3. Education to Fill Knowledge Gaps
4. Pharmacy Workflow Strategies
5. Pharmacist-led Educational Interventions
6. Pharmacist-led Medication Reconciliation Programs
7. “Rights” of Medication Administration
8. High-Alert Medications in Acute Care Settings
9. Awareness of Error-Prone Abbreviations
10. Medication Errors Reporting Program (MERP)
11. Patient Education
12. Pharmacist Involvement with Over-the-counter (OTC) Medications
VII. Reporting Medication Errors
VIII. Disclosing Medication Errors to the Patient
IX. Summary