CLINICAL ROLE -
What Does USP Mean to You?
This important document outlines the responsibilities of the extemporaneous compounder.
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Two Examples of Name-Related Medication Errors
Independent verification of drug doses can prevent mix-ups and misinterpretation.
Don't Share Insulin Pens Between Patients
Sterility is not maintained by putting a new needle on a used pen device.
ActHIB Component of 2-Vial Pentacel is Repeatedly Missed
This childhood vaccine given as 1 shot requires mixing of 2 components, leading to omission errors.
How Safe Are the Liquid Dispensing Devices You Provide to Patients?
Adapters for oral syringes undermine child-resistant packaging.
Drug Name Confusions
Miscommunication between health care professionals can have dangerous consequences.
Robots Can't Beat Risky Practices
Careful use and maintenance are needed to ensure that automated systems successfully reduce the risk of medication errors.
Keeping Patients Safe from Methadone Overdoses
Confusion between methadone and other medications with look-alike names can cause life-threatening errors.
Arm Patients With Information to Uncover Errors
Much can be learned from cases in which patients are the ones to discover mistakes made with their medications.
Using FMEA for New Medications
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis provides a systematic method for evaluating potential points of error.
Breakdowns During the Dispensing Process
Miscommunication or misinterpretation can lead to medication errors at several points in the dispensing process.
Danger Lurks with Used Transdermal Patches
This convenient delivery system can sometimes cause accidental exposure to dangerous medications for children and pets.
A Pharmacist's Guide to Preventing Vaccine Errors
Safety Standards Needed for Dosing of Liquid Medications
Despite attempts at standardization, these preventable and often devastating errors still occur.
Ambiguous and Dangerous Abbreviations
Abbreviations used for dosing and drug names can lead to dispensing mistakes.
Avoiding Wrong-Patient Errors at the Point of Sale
Some important safety measures, such as asking open-ended questions, are neither complicated nor costly.
High-Alert Medications for Community/Ambulatory Health Care
Despite their differences, pharmacists in the community and ambulatory care settings can share risk-reduction strategies.
High-Alert Medications Involved in Wrong- Drug Errors
Look-alike, sound-alike drug errors are easily preventable with the proper intervention.
Safeguarding the Use of Suboxone
Errors involving medications for opioid dependence can compromise a patient's treatment.
Safeguard Use of Sig Codes and Mnemonics
Sig codes and mnemonics save time behind the counter, but careless mistakes and misinterpretation can lead to serious medication errors.
Error-Prone Features of Catapres-TTS
Preventing Accidental Poisonings in Children
Unintentional poisonings in children can involve grandparents' medications. These older patients need education and safe practice recommendations.
Prescriber-Patient-Pharmacist Communication
Changes to a patient's medication can have potentially devastating consequences if all parties involved are not properly informed.
Acetaminophen: Helping Patients to Stay Below the Limit
Although acetaminophen is considered very safe, unintentional overdosing is a serious problem.
Medication Errors Involving Children
DTaP-Tdap Mix-Ups Continue to Be Reported
Despite efforts by manufacturers to differentiate between the adult and pediatric formulations of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis immunizations, they are ofter improperly administered.
Barriers to Medication Reconciliation
Community pharmacists and emergency departments can improve patient safety by communicating effectively to ensure that patient's medication profiles are accurate and up-to-date.
For Our Children's Sake, Clear Up OTC Cough and Cold Product Labels
Confusing guidelines regarding dosing of some OTC products can potentially harm young children.
Relay Services for Telephone Prescriptions
When an operator service is used by hearing-impaired pharmacy staff, steps must be taken to avoid the possibility of medication errors.