hospital safety : how to prevent medication error during hospital stay?

Reduce the chance for medication errors by being informed, alert, organized and aware. Be sure to:

• Bring all the medicines you are currently taking with you so that your healthcare team can review them. Do not forget over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements and herbal remedies.
• Know what the medicines given to you in the hospital look and taste like. If either is different when your nurse brings them to you, ask why. If you are not fully coherent, have a family member or friend do so for you.
• Know what ailments or conditions your medicines are treating. It is helpful to know both the clinical and consumer-oriented name for your condition(s).
• Some discomfort can be expected, but it is important to let someone know about an atypical response to medication, which could help flag a potential problem or error in your care.
• Make sure your nurse or medication administrator checks your hospital wristband before giving you medication. Your family members can also watch to ensure this happens.
• Share your medication list with a friend or family member every time it changes. Make sure the list is dated, as your list of medications may change often.
• Make sure you are not taking medications or dietary supplements from home without your healthcare team’s knowledge.
• Remember that some of the same drugs have different names, while some drugs have similar names but are different. Having a printed, legible list of your medications that includes generic and brand names is helpful in sorting this out.

Make sure care team members who bring medications to you are aware of any allergic reactions you have had to medicines in the past. Ensure your family members are aware of any drug allergies as well. Many of these suggestions to keep medication use safe in the hospital can also be helpful at home.