Recent studies indicate that 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries occur each year in U.S. hospitals. Medication errors, which encompass all mistakes involving prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements, are the most common healthcare errors, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.   

SAFER HOSPITALS

Recent performance standards issued by The Joint Commission (TJC) requires hospitals to improve the safety of using medications, including provisions that address drug labeling, look-alike/sound-alike medication names, and anticoagulation therapy.

An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 15,000 healthcare organizations in the United States—including Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Like other healthcare facilities throughout the country, Memorial has adopted TJC recommendations to improve medication safety by establishing specific policies and procedures to better meet the diverse needs of patients; evaluating and implementing ways to continuously improve medication safety; and increasing communication and improving interaction between healthcare professionals and patients—as well as promoting steps patients should take to protect themselves.

“These recommendations boil down to ensuring patients are fully informed about how to take medications safely and achieve the desired results, and that healthcare providers have the tools and data necessary to prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs as safely as possible and to monitor for problems,” said Dr. Kevin Mocklin, who, as medical director for Memorial’s 391-bed health system, is responsible for decisions relating to utilization, infection control, quality assurance, and the hospital’s clinical aspects. “Our ultimate goal is to achieve the best care and outcomes for patients each time they take a medication.  And to achieve this, it’s important for patients to provide any healthcare provider with a complete list of the medications they take regularly, both prescribed and over-the-counter.”

SAFER PATIENTS

According to the American Hospital Association, common medication errors result from:

• Incomplete patient information about allergies, other medicines being taken, and previous diagnoses and lab results;
• Unavailable drug information such as a lack of up-to-date warnings;
• Miscommunication of drug orders, which can involve poor handwriting, confusion between drugs with similar names, misuse of zeroes and decimal points, confusion of metric and other dosing units, and inappropriate abbreviations; 
• Lack of appropriate labeling as a drug is prepared and repackaged into smaller units; and
• Environmental factors, such as lighting, heat, noise, and interruptions that can distract health professionals from their medical tasks.

Rather than remain passive recipients of the care they receive, Memorial patients are encouraged to be active participants. To reduce the risks, get the most benefit, and avoid medication errors, patients are urged to speak up: ask questions, find the facts, evaluate their choices; and report any unwanted effects immediately.

The more information physicians, nurses, and pharmacists know, the better they can plan appropriate care.

A written list is often the most comprehensive and easiest to provide. Patients are urged to include:

·         A complete medical history, such as illnesses, medical conditions, and operations;

·         Prescription medicines, including any samples their doctor may have provided’

·         Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, or medicines that can be purchased without a prescription (such as antacids, laxatives, or pain, fever, and cough/cold medicines);

·         Dietary supplements, including vitamins and herbs, and other treatments;

·         Any allergies and any problems with a medicine

·         Anything that could have an effect on the use of medicine, such as pregnancy, breast feeding, trouble swallowing, trouble remembering, or cost.