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Tags: health, wellness, medicine, medication errors
 Nobody can perhaps do something perfectly and accurately all the time. Mistakes are inevitable and at some points everybody makes them. But it seems that those in the eminent field of healthcare cannot afford to make mistakes. After all, healthcare professionals cater to people’s health and yes, their lives. But human as they are, healthcare professional make errors, more commonly so, medication errors.
By the sound of it, medication errors are hazardous. And indeed, they could be. Some medication errors may cause minor consequences, but still, others can be threatening to the point of being deadly. After all, medications are pharmaceutical products. They are made up of potent chemicals and substances. Such components when used wisely can bring about relief and treatment from certain ailments, diseases and conditions.
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The contrary is also true that when medications are thoughtlessly and inappropriately taken in, they can cause tremendous havoc. Such instances can occur through medication errors. Anybody in the healthcare field ranging from doctors to nurses and pharmacists can commit medication errors. But what really are they- medication errors? Here are some cited examples.
It is categorized as a medication error when your doctor prescribes a medication when he or she is aware that the patient has an allergic reaction to it. Another example of a medication error is when the physician prescribes a new medication which contraindicates with the patient’s other medications. The physician’s blunder here is that he or she did not take time to read the package insert.
With medication errors like these, the patient is put to the peril of having adverse reactions to the medications. Or perhaps a physician prescribes a medication to a bedridden amputee patient when the medication is supposedly formulated only for those who are mobile. Such medication errors can have grave consequences.
Medication errors are when a pharmacist gives fills the patient’s bottle with medication A when the prescription says medication B. Or when the pharmacist fills the right prescription but prints the wrong dosing directions. There are in fact countless of other instances of medication errors which are too many to mention.
Medication errors have come to the point of being disturbingly alarming that the Food and Drug Administration has conducted more researches on them. Based on these researches, the FDA has devised rules and programs which can minimize and prevent medication errors. The FDA finds this endeavor a challenging one, though.
The patient’s awareness and initiative are integral in preventing medication errors as well. For instance, the patient can keep an active record of all their current medications and provide copies to all their physicians. Medication errors can also be prevented by the patient taking time to research on the medication/s they are allergic to, including its generic name.
It may be sensible for the patient to tell their regular pharmacist and the patient’s family about medications they are currently using. A prudent means of doing away with medication errors is for the patient to thoroughly discuss and ask questions to their doctor about the medications prescribed to them.
And for instances at home when the patient is unsure about their medications, it is always reasonable to call the physician. After all, patients themselves can commit medication errors, too.
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About the author
The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose recently published a step-by-step guide on how to lose weight the EASY way and become totally healthy and happy. More info on her life-changing eating habits plan HERE.
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