To Err Is Human

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

Medical errors have become one of the major focuses of the health care industry since the Institute of Medicine released its report in the year 1999, The Err Is Human. During that time there was an estimated ninety eight thousand people dying a year in hospitals due to medical errors. Naturally this struck fear into people and caused many to question a lot of things being done in health care facilities. According to more recent studies, it has been noted that as many four hundred and forty four thousand people die each year from a preventable medical error. That is only the death toll as a result of a medical error, not the actual number of individuals that endure a medical error each year. With statistic numbers like these, health care facilities are sacrificing large numbers of patients that equal out to the number people within fairly large cities and states. With this number of people dying alone as a result of

It is shocking to know that every year 98000 patients die from medical errors that can be prevented(Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J. M., & Donaldson, M. S. (Eds.), 2000). Medical errors are not a new issue in our healthcare system; these have been around for a long time. Hospitals have been trying to improve quality care and patients safety by implementing different strategies to prevent and reduce medical errors for past thirty years. Medical errors are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer in America (Allen, 2013). In addition medical errors are costing our healthcare system an estimated $735 billion to $980 billion (Andel, Davidow, Hollander, & Moreno, 2012).

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

The third leading cause of death in America may surprise you. Hospitals and healthcare organizations dedicate their branding to reflect a place of hope, comfort, and healing when ones health is compromised. Sadly, medical errors do exists in the realm of healthcare. The National Center for Biotechnology Information defines medical error as “an act of omission or commission in planning or execution that contributes to or could contribute to an unintended result.” Medical errors may include incorrect record keeping, administering incorrect medication to a patient, misdiagnosis, failing to remove all surgical instruments and performing surgery on the incorrect site. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality identified eight factors that contribute to the cause of medical errors. These factors include “communication problems, inadequate information flow, human problems, patient-related issues, organizational transfer of knowledge, staffing patterns, technical failures and inadequate policies and procedures.”

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, To Err Is Human, the majority of medical errors result from faulty systems and processes, not individuals (Hughes, 2008). However, due to processes that are inefficient and variable, multiple health insurance, differences in provider education and experience, and other factors that contribute to the complexity of health care the IOM has put together six aims of health care that is effective, safe, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable (Hughes, 2008).

Medication errors are a reoccurring issue that has plagued the medical field since the beginning of drug administration. In order to understand how to handle medication errors, one must first understand what a medication error is. The concept of medication error can be defined as: “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or harm to a patient” (Kee, 2012, 125). Examples of medication errors include: misreading a patient’s medical file, not clarifying illegible prescriptions, an incomplete patient assessment, confusing look-alike and sound-alike medications, and lack of better understanding if a medication can be crushed or split. To better understand medication errors and medication safety one must understand the impact it can have on the medical community and patient care, ways to prevent medication errors, and what should be done in a situation where a medication error has occurred.

Medicine is an always evolving field, and continues to grow in the pursuit of people health benefit. As time has passed better research studies, discoveries, treatments and improvement of patient outcomes has been the pride of the medical field. However; despite all the improvements in medical advancement, preventable medical errors have become a major problem in the field. About a decade ago, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) investigated and created the report To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, in that report the IOM came to the conclusion that approximately 98,000 people has died yearly in the United States as a consequence of an preventable medical error (RWJF, 2011). Some of these errors are caused

management tools to address service complaints and suggestions for improvement. The popular and renowned To Err is Human noted health professionals, society at large, and overall persons populated regions in America pay costs for industry policy changes and errors. Limitations in quality health care lead to cost errors, lost work productivity, reduction in children’s ongoing care structures and overall population health status (Kohn, Corrigan, & Donaldson, 1999).To Err Is Human. The point; is we can do better and provide better. How do we measure better?

Attention to medical errors escalated over eight years ago with the release of a study from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), To

Medical errors are among the five most common causes of death in the United States, among them - cardiovascular, cancer, stroke and lung disease. According to scientists, the number of deaths of Americans as a result of medical errors exceeds the number of deaths caused by breast cancer, car accidents or AIDS. Checking the quality of care insurance company organized for the benefit of the patient, and as a result hospitals financially punishes not only technical, but also for medical errors (Ulene, 2008).

Medical errors within the health care industry is tremendous and cost billions of dollars to the United States economy. Medical errors increase the cost of health care and majority of these medical errors that occur are preventable and normally due to negligence. According to Becker’s Hospital the most common medical errors in the United States are; Adverse drug events, catheter associated urinary tract infection, central line associated bloodstream infection, injury from falls and immobility, obstetrical adverse events, pressure ulcers, surgical site infections, Venous thrombosis, and ventilator associated pneumonia (Dunn, 2014). Medical errors are the third leading cause of death to heart disease and cancer in the United States, claiming

According to, To Err Is Human, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, the primary reason for medical errors aren’t because of people but more so because of technological issues such as faulty systems and processes. With the many improvements within healthcare technology, there are now many scientific ways to measure

In today's modern world with plenty of technology, it is hard to believe that we cannot figure out how to reduce Medical errors. The issue of medical error is not new in health care organizations. It has been in spot light since 1990's, when government did research on sudden increase in number of death in the hospitals. According to Lester, H., & Tritter, J. (2001), "Medical error is an actual or potential serious lapse in the standard of care provided to a patient, or harm caused to a patient through the performance of a health service or health care professional." Medical errors

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1999 announced that the “estimated medical error results in 44,000 to 98,000 deaths per year” (Moffett & Bohara, 2005). So, “the report, To Err Is Human: