A Good Example Of Poor Pateint Provider Communication

This is an example of how poor collaboration and medication discrepancies can be detrimental to patients.

Each year, roughly 1.5 million adverse drug events (ADEs) occur in acute and long-term care settings across America (Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2006). An ADE is succinctly defined as actual or potential patient harm resulting from a medication error. To expound further, while ADEs may result from oversights related to prescribing or dispensing, 26-32% of all erroneous drug interventions occur during the nursing administration and monitoring phases (Anderson & Townsend, 2010). These mollifiable mishaps not only create a formidable financial burden for health care systems, they also carry the potential of imposing irreversible physiological impairment to patients and their families. In an effort to ameliorate cost inflation, undue detriment, and the potential for litigation, a multifactorial approach must be taken to improve patient outcomes. Key components in allaying drug-related errors from a nursing perspective include: implementing safety and quality measures, understanding the roles and responsibilities of the nurse, embracing technological safeguards, incorporating interdisciplinary collaborative efforts, and continued emphasis upon quality control.

When it comes to medication errors several things may occur such as adverse drug event, unexpected deterioration, and even death in severe cases. AHRQ (2015) states, “an adverse drug event (ADE) is defined as harm experienced by a patient as a result of exposure to a medication, and ADEs account for nearly 700,000 emergency department visits 100,000 hospitalizations each year.” There are many ways that errors may occur such as dispensary errors, prescription errors

With access to prescription drugs, people are able to treat a multitude of diseases and illnesses. These drugs help deal with pain, inability to sleep, depression, and much more. Every day we are increasingly living in a world where there is better living through chemicals. However, what most do not seem to see is the rising tide of pain, illness, and ultimately death being caused by the pills people take every day. Most keep drugs in a special place in their minds, where they see them as harmless. Sadly, this is not the case, and in some cases our prescription drugs can be just as harmful as illegal drugs (King 68).

Due to the large number of consumers being prescribed multiple medications, and the complexity of managing those medications, it is of a major safety concern that systems are in place for clinicians to reconcile patients medications to resolve any discrepancies in what the patient is using, or should be using, and newly added ones.

For example, when people who abuse oxycodone (OxyContin) they crush and inhale the pills, a 12-hour dose hits their central nervous system all at once—which increases their risk of addiction and overdose. Almost every medication presents some risk of undesirable side effects, sometimes even serious ones. Doctors consider the potential benefits and risks to each patient before prescribing medications. They understand that drugs affect the body in many ways and take into account things like the drug’s form and dose, its possible side effects, and the potential for addiction or withdrawal. For example, doctors know how to change the dose of a painkiller to prevent withdrawal symptoms. People who abuse drugs might not

drugs can be potentially dangerous for a patient, particularly if they are receiving medications from different clinicians who are not communicating with each

Medication errors are focused on: terms and definitions; incidence of and harm; risk factors; avoidance; disclosure, legalities & consequences (Wittich, Burkle & Lanier, 2014). Medication errors categories have been developed by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). Examples of these categories are based on prescribing, omitting drugs not administered, timing, unauthorized drug, wrong dosage, wrong preparation, expired drug, not using laboratory data to monitor toxicity (Wittich, Burkle & Lanier, 2014). Additionally, this article examines in depth common causes leading to medication errors, drug nomenclature, similar sounding drugs, unapproved abbreviations and handwriting, medical staff shortages and manufacturer medication shortages. Even though this article provides an informative overview for physicians, other allied health personnel may benefit too. This is valuable knowledge for the health care professional not just physicians in order to provide safe care for their

Despite having the knowledge of the side effects that propoxyphene could have on a patient, the pharmacist did not advise the patient or the family on its side effects an action that led to its harmful effects (Leagle, 1994). Pharmacists need to have a good record and trace how drugs are dispensed to the patient, based on this case, it is evident that the pharmacists failed in doing that, even though they had access to a computerized program which allowed them to view patients’ history, an action that led to dispensing of drugs at a faster rate thus its faster consumption. Despite pharmacists engaging Dr. Edwards in dispensing drug, they failed to disclose their views concerning the medication so that together with Dr. Edwards they could manage to dispense the drugs at the right proportion and time thus promoting patient’s

Often, these side effects are more dangerous than the condition being treated. Yet, this medication are appovered by the FDA. And, this medications are used to treat many Americans without knowing if they are safe for use or not.

Medication errors in the hospital setting have significant potential to result in serious injury and even death, thus effecting patients, families, health care professionals, and hospitals. Approximately 400,000 adverse drug effects (ADE) occur each year (Institute of Medicine, 2006). Considering that not all medication errors are discovered and reported, this number is likely to be underestimated. These errors not only contribute to patient morbidity and mortality, but also cause increased length of stay and hospital expenses. It is estimated by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that $3.5 billion is spent annually as a result of ADEs (IOM, 2006).

For many patients the scariest part of being in the hospital is having to rely on other people to control your life changing decisions. One large part of this is the medications one is given while in our care. I can only imagine what it must be like for patients to have a stranger to come in and start administering drugs to me. This would be especially scary if I did not know what these medications did, or what negative effects could be caused by taking them. Unfortunately, the fear of medication errors that many patients have are not unfounded. Estimates range from 1.5 to 66 million patients a year have medication errors occur while they are in the care of health care professionals. Considering all of the technology we have at our

It is important for physicians to take into account the various outcomes that happen when prescribing pain medications. Aside from having the burdensome responsibility of relieving a patient’s pain, a physician could also be responsible for the possibility of negative outcomes like sickness and even death as a result of pain medications often prescribed. Because of the risks

A physician could make mistakes in prescribing, the pharmacy could send the wrong medication, but who actually gave it to the patient is accountable for the consequences. For this reason, it’s our responsibility to implement change in our practice based on the evidence in order to ensure safe patient care.

The harms and dangers of abusing prescription medication is dangerous. Sometimes the abuser can become intoxicated if they are taking the medication in large amounts or using very frequently. Opioid (“painkillers which are prescribed for pain relief and can produce euphoria or a sense of well-being when used non medically” (Rozenbroek & Rothstein, 2011, p. 358))” intoxication or overdose occurs when a person takes a dose much higher than he or she can tolerate, takes the drug through alternate routes (e.g., snorting, sniffing), or ingests the drug with other medications (especially depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines)” (Felicilda-Reynaldo, 2015, p. 393). Patients suffering withdrawal may present with the following signs and symptoms: “diaphoresis (sweating), runny nose, goosebumps, pupil dilation, muscle cramps, joint pain, nausea and vomiting, hypertension, and bradycardia. Patients may also present with an intense craving for drugs”, states Felicilda-Reynaldo (2015, p. 394). When a user starts to become a heavy user, they can experience adverse effects such as; “headaches, anxiety, anorexia, gastrointestinal distress, problems sleeping, and hallucinations” (Hamilton, 2009, p. 894). Combining several different drugs is of particular concern because they can be very harmful and could even cause death says Rozenbroek and Rothstein. (2011, p. 358). Drinking alcoholic beverages while mixing prescription medication can cause adverse effects that could potentially be very