Panel issues med-error recommendations

The California Medication Errors Panel has issued a final report highlighting key sources of medication errors and a series of 12 recommendations. The Institute of Medicine estimates that 1.5 million people are sickened, injured, or die annually as a result of medication errors. The panel focused on four areas, which it identified as sources of medication errors: the transcription/transmission of prescriptions, consumer education, healthcare-provider incentives, and training and licensure. To improve these processes, and minimize medication errors, the panel recommended several steps, including: e-prescriptions, requiring prescribers to include the intended use of the medication, language translation services, and establishing MTM standards. The full set of recommendations can be found at www.pharmacyfoundation.org/medicationerrors.

To see more Hot off the Press news articles, click here.

To go to the Drug Topics homepage, click here.