HOSPITAL STAYS CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN

The authors of a new studyrecommend that hospitalsimprove communication anddesignate a pharmacist to beconsulted for each patient tohelp combat medical errors.Their report offers 42 recommendations.

The research, conducted byUnited States Pharmacopeia(USP), the Uniformed ServicesUniversity of the Health Sciences,and 2 nurses'associations,determined that youngchildren are the most likely victimsof surgery-related mistakes.

The researchers determinedthat poor communication as thepatient goes from the operatingroom to recovery is probablyresponsible.

The study examined 11,000errors that had been voluntarilyand anonymously reported toUSP by hospitals since 1998.Theresearch was limited to errorsmade on patients having surgery,and the rate of harm (5%)among all patients was 3 timeshigher than is normal for medicationerrors. The rate of harmamong children was 12%.