Blog Topic

Prevent Medication Errors
Posted by: Craig A. Knapp
January 26, 2012

Your 2 and a half year old daughter is hospitalized due to a seizure disorder. The night is nearing and a nurse comes into the room to give your daughter some medicine. You notice that the medicine she's about to give doesn't look familiar, and a nurse had already come in earlier to give her medication. What would you do?

This exact situation happened to a Kansas mother who, by speaking up to the nurse about the medication she was about to give, saved her daughter from receiving the wrong medicine and because of this, potentially saved her daughter's life. A 1999 report by the Institute of Medicine estimated that about 98,000 people die in the U.S. each year due to medical errors, with many more being sickened.

Unfortunately, many mistakes can be made in every step of the medical process-with the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, drug companies, and even with miscommunication or a misunderstanding on your behalf. However, there are ways to significantly lessen the likelihood of an accident happening, like in the example above. When retrieving medicine for your self or your loved one, here are some simple steps to follow to ensure safety:

1.) Ask questions. Research has shown that those who ask questions and inquire about things they're confused about have better health results. If something is confusing to you, don't be afraid to say so. Ask your doctor to put it in layman's terms to help you understand.

2.) Repeat. Once your questions have been answered, repeat back what your understanding of it was. Respond with, "Okay. Let me clarify that I understand this..." It will help to further justify that there was no miscommunication.

3.) Research. If something seems odd, research it yourself. You know yours or your loved one's ailments better than anyone. Look up to see what medicine you were prescribed and check to see if it treats the symptoms you're having. If it doesn't, go back to step 1 and bring it up to the physician.

4.) Keep records. There is no better way to ensure safety than to keep records of everything going on and take notes. Get copies of each prescription you received and ensure that the pill bottle matches the original copy. Make sure that the doses and frequency match the needs of you or your loved one. For example, if a dose seems high for your child's weight, don't be afraid to bring it up.

5.) Clarify. When you are told to do something, clarify that you understand it properly. For example, if a medication says take six doses daily, make sure you find out if that means you should be waking up and taking it every four hours or if it only counts during waking hours.

6.) Bring a witness. Sometimes, particularly in stressful situations, you can be overloaded with an excess amount of information. This is why it's helpful to bring someone with you to help ensure you understand everything. This will allow you to get a fresh perspective and can assist you in knowing how to properly treat yourself.

7.) Check the bottle. This is one of the most important things you can do when receiving your prescription from the pharmacy. Check to make sure the pill bottle says the proper prescription on it, as well as the dose and frequency that you should be receiving. You can cross reference this from the copy of the prescription you made for yourself prior to filling it (see Step 4).

8.) Educate yourself. Above all, this is the single most important thing you can do for your self or your loved one. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists see dozens of people every day. It can be difficult for them to remember every detail about you and your needs. This is why it helps for you to make sure that yours or your loved one's needs are being met. This will show those medical professionals that you're paying attention, making the likelihood of them paying closer attention to you much greater.

Thousands of people die each year from medical errors with countless others enduring injuries over silly mistakes. Don't be a victim of these errors. Do everything you can to prevent these injuries from happening with the few simple steps above. It could save yours or your loved one's life. If you or someone you know has suffered from medication errors, contact Knapp & Roberts immediately. You deserve healthy treatment in every step of the medical process. We can help you tell your story and ensure that someone else does not endure the hardships that you have. Give us a call.

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