Medication Errors

Guidance on raising concerns
General Pharmaceutical Council

This guidance explains to pharmacy professionals (pharmacists and
pharmacy technicians) the importance of raising concerns, and their relevant responsibilities. Pharmacy professionals should use
their professional judgement in applying this guidance.

  • Source: pharmacyregulation.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Guide: Near Miss Errors

This guidance is for superintendents, pharmacy owners, pharmacists and pharmacy staff.

Our near miss error log and near miss error improvement tool, along with supporting guidance, can help you and your pharmacy team to work through the near miss errors (NMEs) and learn from them.

  • Source: rpharms.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guide and Error Log Sheet
  • Register to Access Content: Yes – content available to members of the RPS

Investigating the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors in general practice: The PRACtICe study
A report for the GMC

The report makes a number of recommendations for improving the safety of prescribing including:

  • Promoting the effective use of clinical computer systems for safe prescribing.
  • Increasing the prominence given to therapeutic knowledge and the skills and attitudes needed for safe prescribing during GP training.
  • Promoting the reporting of adverse prescribing events (and near misses) through national reporting systems.

In addition, the research suggests that pharmacists can play a greater role in mitigating the occurrence of error, through reviewing patients with complex medicines regimens at a practice level, and in identifying and informing the GP of errors at the point of dispensing.

  • Source: gmc-uk.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

PRACTICE: the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors

Steve Chaplin provides details of one of the largest UK studies into the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors in primary care.

  • Source: eu.wiley.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

Design for patient safety: a guide to the design of dispensed medicines

This booklet explores how design can be used to make dispensed products safer for patients, whether they are dispensed from community pharmacies, doctor dispensing practices or hospital pharmacies.

Organisations, managers and healthcare workers involved in dispensing medicines should use this booklet as a resource to help introduce new initiatives to minimise harm from medicines.

It looks at some key elements of dispensed medicines, including:

  • setting up a label, including label size, font, layout and paper quality;
  • applying dispensing labels to medicines; and
  • auxiliary aids to help patients use medicines.
  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Archived Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Design for patient safety: a guide to the design of the dispensing environment

This booklet shows how the design of the dispensing environment can make the dispensing process safer in community pharmacies, dispensing doctor practices and hospital pharmacies.

By breaking the dispensing process down into its constituent parts, each stage can be looked at individually and improved design applied to each one to make the process as safe as possible. This booklet looks at each stage in more detail.

Among the suggestions in the guide are:

  • how changes to the general dispensing environment can improve patient safety;
  • and how design changes to the stages of dispensing a prescription can help reduce errors.
  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Archived Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Design for patient safety: A guide to the graphic design of medication packaging

It is estimated that a third of medication errors in the NHS are caused by confusion over packaging and labelling instructions. Improvements to the design of medicine packaging could therefore help to reduce this figure whilst also increasing medication compliance.

Design for patient safety: A guide to the graphic design of medication packaging shows how graphic design on medicine packaging can enhance patient safety and details best practice based on established guidelines. It focuses on:

  • Blister packs – the most common type of primary packaging for prescription medicines
  • Secondary packaging used to contain blister packs
  • The label attached to secondary packaging in pharmacies.

The document is aimed at packaging designers and pharmaceutical companies, but will also be of interest to those in the NHS who regulate and purchase medication.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Archived Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Best Practice Guidance on The Labelling and Packaging of Medicines
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

As part of a move towards an increase in self regulation of medicines labelling and packaging, this document has been developed to aid those responsible for the origination of labelling and packaging artwork. It sets out the legal framework for labelling and packaging as described in UK and EU legislation. In addition it describes best practice in the area of labelling and packaging to ensure that medicines can be used safely by all patients, the public and healthcare professionals alike. It also reflects the expectations of healthcare professionals, patients and regulators with respect to reduction in medication errors, and safe selection and use of medicines by all users

  • Source: gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Design for patient safety: guidelines for the safe on-screen display of medication information

This booklet provides guidance to Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) vendors, those procuring HIT software, and patient safety and risk management professionals with recommendations for the safe on-screen display of medicines information.

The issues and recommendations demonstrate how to avoid misinterpretation of electronic prescriptions. They address known errors identified from both handwritten and electronic prescriptions, and suggest ways in which these can be avoided in the future.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Archived Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Safety in doses

Reports of patient safety incidents relating to medication can help inform the action required by the NHS to improve safety for patients.

The National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) regularly reviews the incidents reported from the NHS in England and Wales. The NRLS has published two reports that set out the analysis of these reports and aim to help ensure that medicines are used safely and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

Safety in Doses: improving the use of medicines in the NHS has been published in 2007 and in 2009. The reports identify risks and areas for action.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Archived Data Reports
  • Register to Access Content: No

Creation of a better medication safety culture in Europe: Building up safe medication practices

The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on Pharmaceutical Questions established the Expert Group on Safe Medication Practices in 2003 to review medication safety and to prepare recommendations to specifically prevent adverse events caused by medication errors in European health care.

This report essentially deals with medication errors and their prevention. It presents the work carried out by the Expert Group on Safe Medication Practices and represents the first international report on this topic with a special focus on Europe.

  • Source: edqm.eu
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

Drug Safety Update
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

  • Source: gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Publication
  • Register to Access Content: No

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada Safety Bulletins

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada is an independent national not-for-profit organization committed to the advancement of medication safety in all healthcare settings.

  • Source: ismp-canada.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Bulletins
  • Register to Access Content: No

Building a Safer NHS for Patients: Improving Medication Safety

Errors occur in the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines. They can have serious consequences and they are invariably preventable. This report explores the causes and frequency of medication errors, highlights drugs and clinical settings that carry particular risks, and identifies models of good practice to reduce risk.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Guidelines on Preventing Medication Errors in Hospitals

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide the pharmacists with practical recommendations and best practices for preventing and mitigating patient harm from medication errors in the health-system setting. These guidelines are primarily intended to apply to the acute care setting because of the special collaborative processes established in this setting (i.e., formulary system, pharmacy and therapeutics committee, widespread use of automation and electronic health records [EHRs], and opportunity for increased interaction among healthcare providers). However, many of the ideas and principles in these guidelines may be applicable to practice settings outside of the acute care setting, especially in health systems.

  • Source: ashp.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guideline
  • Register to Access Content: No

British Pharmacological Society Ten Principles of Good Prescribing

Prescribing is the main approach to the treatment and prevention of disease in modern healthcare. While medicines have the capacity to enhance health, all have the potential to cause harm if used inappropriately. For these reasons the British Pharmacological Society recommends that healthcare professionals who prescribe medicines should do so based on the following ten principles, which underpin safe and effective use of medicines.

  • Source: bps.ac.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Principles
  • Register to Access Content: No

Improving safety & managing risk in medicines management systems and processes

‘Increasing safety and managing risk in medicines management systems and processes’ incorporates;

  • Reducing risk and
  • Reducing medication errors

Find out more information about ‘Increasing safety and managing risk in medicines management systems and processes’ by using the eLearning materials for reducing risk, and ‘reducing medication errors’ and/or the other available links and resources situated on the left-hand side menu.

  • Source: webarchive.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: e-Learning
  • Register to Access Content: No

The Use of Tall Man Lettering to Minimise Selection Errors of Medicine Names in Computer Prescribing and Dispensing Systems

One source of potential error in prescribing is to mistake the required medicine name for another similar sounding or looking name. So called ‘look-alike, sound-alike’ medicine combinations are presented to Health Care Practitioners (HCPs) by computer-based prescribing and dispensing systems, and may predispose selection error. Approaches to try to prevent this happening include the use of ‘Tall Man’ lettering. This is where some letters of the medicine’s name, which is presented in lowercase font, possibly with the initial letter capitalised for a brand name, are capitalised.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

National Tall Man Lettering List

Published by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

This document is an update on the 2017 revision of the National list of Australian medicines names with Tall Man applied published in 2011.

Medication errors are one of the most commonly reported clinical incidents in acute healthcare settings. While rates of serious harm are low, the prevalence of medication errors is a concern, particularly as many are preventable. Medication incidents related to ‘look-alike, sound-alike’ (LASA) medicine names are one of the most common type
of medication error.

  • Source: safetyandquality.gov.au
  • Pharmacy Resource: List
  • Register to Access Content: No

Reducing look-alike, sound-alike errors (LASA)

The aim of this learning programme is to improve the pharmacy team’s knowledge in defining look-alike, sound-alike (LASA) errors and reduce the risk of LASA errors occurring. LASA errors are recognised as an important patient safety issue that can happen in any pharmacy with potentially serious consequences for patients.

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

  • define what a look alike, sound alike (LASA) error is
  • outline why LASA errors might occur
  • describe potential methods that can be used to prevent LASA errors
  • apply this learning to your practice in order to reduce the risk of LASA errors.
  • Source: cppe.ac.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: CE / CPD / Learning
  • Register to Access Content: Yes

ISMP Lists of Look-Alike Drug Names with Recommended Tall Man Letters

ISMP List of Look-Alike Drug Names with Recommended Tall Man Letters contains drug name pairs and trios with recommended, bolded tall man (uppercase) letters to help draw attention to the dissimilarities in look-alike drug names.

  • Source: ismp.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: List
  • Register to Access Content: No

Reducing prescribing errors

This evidence scan examines strategies to reduce prescribing errors.

The scan provides a rapid collation of empirical research about initiatives to reduce prescribing errors. It addresses the following questions:

  • What approaches have been used to reduce prescribing errors?
  • Have any approaches related to human factors been researched?

The scan finds that most studies about reducing prescribing errors have been undertaken in hospital. The three most commonly researched approaches are, in order of frequency: computerised tools, training to improve prescribing and expanding professional roles to identify errors.

  • Source: health.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Evidence Scan
  • Register to Access Content: No

“Part 1: Medication Error Prevention Update”

This is our biannual lesson on “Medication Errors.” It’s been divided into two portions. In this lesson we describe the outdated culture of punishment. Additionally, we discuss Root Cause Analysis & take a look at a couple of cases involving drug errors.

“Part 2: Medication Error Prevention Update”

This is our biannual lesson on “Medication Errors.” It’s been divided into two portions. This is Part 2, and we review techniques & considerations for lessening medication errors. We build on the principles discussed in Part 1.

  • Source: wfprofessional.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: CE / CPD / Learning
  • Register to Access Content: No

Medication errors

Medication errors, broadly defined as any error in the prescribing, dispensing, or administration of a drug, irrespective of whether such errors lead to adverse consequences or not, are the single most preventable cause of patient harm. Medication errors may be classified according to the stage of the medication use cycle in which they occur (prescribing, dispensing, or administration) although a recent classification of medication error into mistakes, slips, or lapses has been proposed.

  • Source: rcpe.ac.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

Learning from prescribing errors

This paper focuses on prescribing errors and argues that, while learning from prescribing errors is a laudable goal, there are currently barriers that can prevent this occurring. Learning from errors can take place on an individual level, at a team level, and across an organisation.

  • Source: nih.gov
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

Avoidable prescribing errors: incidence and the causes

In the first of two articles looking at how to reduce prescription errors in general practice, Professor Tony Avery discusses their incidence and the underlying causes.

Avoidable prescribing errors: communication and monitoring

In the second of two articles looking at how to reduce prescription errors in general practice, Professor Tony Avery discusses communication, medication monitoring and repeat prescribing.

  • Source: eu.wiley.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Articles
  • Register to Access Content: No

Learning from Error – video and booklet

This video was produced for use in a seminar or workshop setting in conjunction with the Learning from Error booklet. The booklet explains more about how the resource can be used to facilitate learning for health care professionals.

Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the concept of root cause analysis. Chapter 2 is a dramatized incident of how a series of errors led to the incorrect administration of vincristine. Chapters 3-8 analyse the drama in the light of five factors that can reduce error in health care.

  • Source: who.int
  • Pharmacy Resource: Video and Booklet
  • Register to Access Content: No

The pathophysiology of medication errors: how and where they arise

In this review we consider how errors can occur and what factors alter the risk of error.

  • Source: eu.wiley.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

Pharmacy Intervention in the Medication-use Process
the role of pharmacists in improving patient safety

As highlighted in a report produced in November 2009 “Pharmacy Intervention in the Medication-use Process – the role of pharmacists in improving patient safety”, the involvement of pharmacists in patient safety can be as early at the prescribing phase and up to the administration of the medicines. In many cases, pharmacists are supported by programmes and activities from their national associations, as listed in this extensive work completed by Advit Shah, a final year pharmacy student from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, through an internship at FIP focusing on Patient Safety.

  • Source: fip.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance > Managing medicines in care homes

This guideline covers good practice for managing medicines in care homes. It aims to promote the safe and effective use of medicines in care homes by advising on processes for prescribing, handling and administering medicines. It also recommends how care and services relating to medicines should be provided to people living in care homes.

  • Source: nice.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance > Managing medicines for adults receiving social care in the community

This guideline covers medicines support for adults (aged 18 and over) who are receiving social care in the community. It aims to ensure that people who receive social care are supported to take and look after their medicines effectively and safely at home. It gives advice on assessing if people need help with managing their medicines, who should provide medicines support and how health and social care staff should work together.

  • Source: nice.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Lists of High-Alert Medications

High-alert medications are drugs that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error. Although mistakes may or may not be more common with these drugs, the consequences of an error are clearly more devastating to patients.

High-Alert Medications in Acute Care Settings

High-Alert Medications in Community/Ambulatory Care Settings

High-Alert Medications in Long-Term Care (LTC) Settings

  • Source: ismp.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Lists
  • Register to Access Content: No

The adult patient’s passport to safer use of insulin

The aim of this Alert is to improve patient safety by empowering patients as they take an active role in their treatment with insulin.

This will be achieved with a patient information booklet and a patient-held record (the Insulin Passport) which documents the patient’s current insulin products and enables a safety check for prescribing, dispensing and administration. The Insulin Passport will complement existing systems for ensuring key information is accessed across healthcare sectors.

The adult patient’s passport to safer use of insulin
The adult patient’s passport to safer use of insulin supporting information
Insulin passport contents
Insulin patient information booklet

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Alert
  • Register to Access Content: No

Insulin Safety

This bulletin focuses on errors involving insulin and practical advice – to all staff involved in prescribing, dispensing or administration of insulin – to improve insulin safety.

  • Source: ggcprescribing.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Bulletin
  • Register to Access Content: No

Reducing dosing errors with opioid medicines

This Rapid Response Report alerts all healthcare professionals prescribing, dispensing or administering opioid medicines to the risks of patients receiving unsafe doses.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Alert
  • Register to Access Content: No

Safe use of opioids

This edition has been produced as feedback to medical, nursing and pharmacy staff about safe use of opioids following incidents reported on Datix.

  • Source: ggcprescribing.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Bulletin
  • Register to Access Content: No

Medication incidents related to the use of fentanyl transdermal systems: An international aggregate analysis
International Medication Safety Network

Over the past several years, there have been reports in the medical literature and from medication safety centres around the world concerning adverse events with fentanyl transdermal systems (also referred to as fentanyl “patches”). Many of these incidents have been reported to result in harm and in some cases, even death.

  • Source: intmedsafe.net
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

Inappropriate Prescribing of Fentanyl Patches Is Still Causing Alarming Safety Problems

Despite warnings from the FDA, drug manufacturers, and patient safety agencies, fentanyl transdermal patches continue to be prescribed inappropriately to treat acute pain in opioid naive patients, sometimes in large doses or in combination with oral or intravenous (IV) opioids.

  • Source: nih.gov
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

Reducing treatment dose errors with low molecular weight heparins

Prescribed doses of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) for the treatment of a thromboembolic event are dependent on the weight of the patient and renal function. Underdosing has an increased risk of a further thromboembolic event, while overdosing can increase the risk of bleeding.

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Alert
  • Register to Access Content: No

Antiepileptic drugs: updated advice on switching between different manufacturers’ products

  • Source: gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Update
  • Register to Access Content: No

Patient safety failures in asthma care: the scale of unsafe prescribing in the UK

Last year’s National Review of Asthma Deaths highlighted prescribing errors in nearly half of asthma deaths in primary care (47%). Asthma UK has subsequently analysed data from over 500 UK GP practices which shows these prescribing errors were just the tip of the iceberg.

Our analysis reveals there is evidence that over 22,000 people with asthma in the UK, including 2,000 children, have been prescribed medicines (long-acting reliever inhalers) in a way that is so unsafe they have a ‘black box warning’ in the USA due to the risk they pose to the lives of people with asthma. Our report also indicates that almost 100,000 people with asthma have been prescribed too many short-acting reliever inhalers (more than 12 in a year) without national clinical guidelines being followed, leaving them at risk of life threatening asthma attacks.

  • Source: asthma.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Guidelines on Preventing Medication Errors with Chemotherapy and Biotherapy

The purposes of these guidelines are to define best practices for the safe use of chemotherapy and biotherapy agents and to assist practitioners in improving their medication-use systems to prevent medication errors and patient harm from these agents.

  • Source: ashp.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guideline
  • Register to Access Content: No

Improving compliance with oral methotrexate guidelines

This Patient Safety Alert reissues guidance to the NHS in England and Wales to reduce the risk of patient harm associated with the incorrect dosing frequency of oral methotrexate.

Improving compliance with oral methotrexate guidelines – Patient Safety Alert
Making sure you take oral methotrexate safely- Patient Briefing
Oral methotrexate tablets – IT requirement specification
Oral methotrexate patient information leaflet & dosage record booklet
Towards the safer use of oral methotrexate

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Alert
  • Register to Access Content: No

Preventing fatalities from medication loading doses

A loading dose is an initial large dose of a medicine used to ensure a quick therapeutic response. It is usually given for a short period before therapy continues with a lower maintenance dose. The use of loading doses of medicines can be complex and error prone. Incorrect use of loading doses or subsequent maintenance regimens may lead to severe harm or death.

Preventing fatalities from medication loading doses
Preventing fatalities from medication loading doses supporting information

  • Source: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Alert
  • Register to Access Content: No

Safety First Alert
Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors

Wrong-Route Errors

Improving Prescription/Order Writing

Errors in Transcribing and Administering Medications

Look-Alike/Sound-Alike Medication Errors

  • Source: macoalition.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Publication
  • Register to Access Content: No

Recommendations for Terminology, Abbreviations and Symbols used in Medicines Documentation

  • Source: safetyandquality.gov.au
  • Pharmacy Resource: Publication
  • Register to Access Content: No

ISMP List of Confused Drug Names

Drug names that have been mistaken for one another, including look-alike and sound-alike name pairs.

  • Source: ismp.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: List
  • Register to Access Content: No

Compiled list of confusable Australian drug names

  • Source: safetyandquality.gov.au
  • Pharmacy Resource: List
  • Register to Access Content: No

Look-alike, Sound-alike Drug Names

Reducing medical errors has become a priority in health care today. One area of potential prescribing error is confusing one medication for another that is spelled or sounds similar to a different medication. Below is a listing of “Look-alike, Sound-alike Drug Names” that should be prescribed with care.

  • Source: edrugbook.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: List
  • Register to Access Content: No

Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Medication Names

The existence of confusing drug names is one of the most common causes of medication error and is of concern worldwide. With tens of thousands of drugs currently on the market, the potential for error due to confusing drug names is significant.

  • Source: who.int
  • Pharmacy Resource: Publication
  • Register to Access Content: No

Standards for the design of hospital in-patient prescription charts

A report prepared for Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director, from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in collaboration with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Royal College of Nursing Terms of reference.

  • Source: aomrc.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

An in depth investigation into causes of prescribing errors by foundation trainees in relation to their medical education. EQUIP study.

This programme of research aimed to explore the causes of prescribing errors made by first year foundation trainee (FY1) doctors, concentrating on the interplay between their educational backgrounds and factors in their practice environments. It aimed also to arrive at evidence-based recommendations to improve patient safety and define a future research agenda.

  • Source: gmc-uk.org
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

Writing safe and effective prescriptions in a hospital kardex

This brief review highlights important principles and rules that support safe and effective prescribing in hospitals. It was first published as part of this College’s CME online module on Clinical Pharmacology.

  • Source: rcpe.ac.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidance > Medicines optimisation: the safe and effective use of medicines to enable the best possible outcomes

This guideline covers safe and effective use of medicines in health and social care for people taking 1 or more medicines. It aims to ensure that medicines provide the greatest possible benefit to people by encouraging medicines reconciliation, medication review, and the use of patient decision aids.

  • Source: nice.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guidance
  • Register to Access Content: No

Medication Reconciliation: A Learning Guide

After completing this module, healthcare providers will be able to explain:

  • the concept of medication reconciliation
  • why medication reconciliation is important for patient safety
  • the components needed to perform a complete and accurate medication history
  • the process of reconciling medications on admission, transfer or discharge of the patient
  • the role of each team member in medication reconciliation
  • the role of the patient, family members, and other healthcare workers in medication reconciliation
  • Source: queensu.ca
  • Pharmacy Resource: Module
  • Register to Access Content: No

Medicine Reconciliation
A Practice Guide

  • Source: webarchive.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Guideline
  • Register to Access Content: No

Get it right! Taking a Best Possible Medication History training video

Medication reconciliation is a formal process of obtaining and verifying a complete and accurate list of each patient’s current medicines.

  • Source: safetyandquality.gov.au
  • Pharmacy Resource: Video
  • Register to Access Content: No

CPPE
Medicines reconciliation

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

  • define medicines reconciliation and describe the process
  • summarise key points from NICE guidance on medicines reconciliation
  • compare your local medicines reconciliation policy against national recommendations
  • reflect on whether your current practice in reconciling medicines correlates with your local and national medicines reconciliation policy
  • list your own individual, practical responsibilities as a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or pre-registration pharmacist when reconciling medicines for your patients according to your local medicines policy.
  • Source: cppe.ac.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: CE / CPD / Learning
  • Register to Access Content: Yes

Medication errors: the importance of an accurate drug history

Error is possible in any part of the medication process – prescribing, transcription, dispensing, administration, or monitoring – but it is in the prescribing phase that errors in the medication history may have their effect.

  • Source: eu.wiley.com
  • Pharmacy Resource: Journal Article
  • Register to Access Content: No

Making care safer
Improving medication safety for people in care homes: thoughts and experiences from carers and relatives

This report collects together the testimony given by family and carers of people living in a care home, specifically around issues of medication safety.

  • Source: health.org.uk
  • Pharmacy Resource: Report
  • Register to Access Content: No

 

Pharmacy Resources Last Checked: 28/09/2021

Get hand-picked pharmacy news straight to your inbox

SIGN UP