Medication Errors
Nursing home patients are commonly taking multiple medications necessary to sustain and enhance their lives. Yet if improperly prescribed or administered these lifesaving medications can cause serious and permanent injuries and even death. The following are the most common types of medication errors:
1. Medications administered to the wrong patient;
2. Medications given in an incorrect dose (overdose or inadequate dose);
3. Failing to monitor the effects of a medication. Many medications like blood thinners (Coumadin, Heparin, Lovenox) require regular laboratory tests;
4. Administering a medication to a patient who is allergic to the medication.
According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, medication errors injury 1.5 million Americans annually and cost the health care system billions of dollars. Almost all of these errors are due to carelessness and negligence.
In a nursing home or assisted living facility, medications should only be administered under a prescription by a qualified nurse and med tech. The standard of care requires the nurse or med tech to verify the prescription, the medication, the dose, and the patient before administering each medicine.
At Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. we have represented people whose loved ones died in nursing homes due to medication errors. If you or a loved one has been injured by medication errors in a nursing home or assisted living facility, please call us at (804) 288-1661 or email us to discuss your legal rights.
Frequent Questions for Medication Errors:
- What is the most common cause of a medication error?
- What is the most common fatal medication error?
- How common are medication errors in nursing homes?
Case Results for Medication Errors:
- Fatal Medication Errors at an Assisted Living Facility
Awarded: $511,000 Confidential
Web Resources for Medication Errors:
- Study: Medication Errors Come From Interruptions
Description: This disturbing study found that interruptions of nurses are the most common cause of medication errors. Examples include interruptions to complete paperwork, answer telephone calls, and assisting other nurses. Each interruption significantly increases the risk that the nurse will make a medication error.
- The Most Common Medication Errors
Description: Approximately 1.3 million Americans are injured due to medication errors each year. The most common fatal medication error is administering the wrong dose. This article discusses the frequency of medication errors and steps that you can take to prevent becoming a victim of medication errors.
- Steps to Prevent Medication Errors
Description: This link takes you to an article with simple steps that patients and caregivers can take to prevent medication errors.
- Reducing Medication Errors in Nursing Homes
Description: Medication errors in nursing homes are preventable. This article published by the American Medical Directors Association discusses the frequency of medication errors in nursing homes, steps that can be taken to prevent medication errors, and the serious injuries patients suffer due to medication errors in nursing homes.
- Analysis of Mortalities Associated with Medication Errors
Description: This scholarly report found that over 2/3 of medication errors caused serious injuries and almost 10% led to a patient death.
- FDA Report - Strategies to Reduce Medication Errors
Description: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes that medication errors are preventable. This link describes effective strategies to reduce the incidents of patient injuries and deaths due to medication errors.
- Institute of Medicine Report on Medication Errors
Description: Report outlining how medication errors injure 1.5 million Americans annually and cost the economy billions of dollars.