| The term "medication error" covers a
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| | (FDA) Action Items - Doing What Counts
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| whole manner of sins. What is a
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| | for Patient Safety: Federal Actions to
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| medication error? Perhaps it is better to
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| | Reduce Medical Errors and Their Impact,
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| explain by providing examples of
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| | February 2001, available at:
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| medication errors.
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| | So what can be done to prevent medication
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| Example A - your physician is aware you
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| | errors?
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| are allergic to a medication but
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| | 1. Keep an active record of all
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| prescribes it anyway;
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| | medications you are taking. Write it down
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| Example B - Other medications you are
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| | and provide copies to all physicians.
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| currently taking are contra-indications
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| | 2. Research any medication allergies. How
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| to a new medication your physician just
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| | do you know you are allergic? What is the
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| prescribed, but she doesn't read the
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| | generic name of the drug to which your
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| medication package insert and now you are
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| | are allergic - know it all.
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| taking medications which may prevent the
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| | 3. Tell your pharmacist about all
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| others from being effective, or worse,
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| | medications you are taking. He may only
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| their combination may cause injury;
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| | have records of medications dispensed at
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| Example C - Medicine A can only be taken
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| | his pharmacy - so give them notice of all
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| by people who can walk or are otherwise
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| | medications.
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| mobile, and physician prescribes it for
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| | 4. Tell your family and provide them with
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| his double amputee patient who cannot get
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| | a list of your medications. It is likely
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| out of bed;
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| | that in an emergency you will not be able
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| Example D - Pharmacy receives a
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| | to speak for yourself.
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| prescription for medication A but fills
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| | 5. Speak to your physician - ask why she
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| your bottle with medication B;
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| | is prescribing each medication? What are
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| Example E - Pharmacy fills correct
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| | the side effects? Have you been on this
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| prescription but prints wrong dosing
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| | medication before? Keep a record.
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| directions so you are now taking the
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| | 6. Unsure about dosage? Unsure about
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| medication 9 times a day, rather than 3
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| | combination with other medications? CALL
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| times per day ordered by your doctor. An
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| | YOUR PHYSICIAN… Call, and write down
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| overdose occurs causing injury.
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| | the name of who you spoke with and what
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| There are almost too many examples of
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| | they said. KEEP NOTES.
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| medication errors to list. And many
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| | The Federal Government has also produced
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| players in the health care field can
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| | a list of how to prevent medication
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| cause or fail to prevent medication
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| | errors. See What is recommended? Pretty
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| errors, from physicians, to nurses and
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| | similar list to ours - sadly, both lists
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| pharmacists. Medication errors are such a
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| | are created for consumers and patients.
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| big deal in health care today that the
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| | And it is important to note that it is
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| Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has
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| | not your duty to prevent all medication
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| been researching errors these errors
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| | errors. It is the duty of your healthcare
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| while attempting to create and implement
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| | provider to do so, but if they fail, your
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| programs and rules which would prevent
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| | diligence may be the difference between
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| such errors. How is the FDA doing at
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| | another preventable injury or death from
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| minimizing these errors and the resulting
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| | a medication error and a close call.
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| needless injuries and deaths? Well, it
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| | So please, be organized and diligent
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| must be a difficult challenge because the
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| | about your medications. And if you have
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| FDA admits "Improving patient safety
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| | had a medication error occur, and have
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| continues to be a challenge." Final
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| | suffered injury as a result, please do
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| Summary of Food and Drug Administration
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| | not hesitate to contact our firm.
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