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Running head: MEDICATION SAFETY 1

MEDICATION SAFETY 5

Medication Safety

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Medication Safety

Medication practices that are unsafe to patients' healthcare have been an issue worldwide. They are leading to harm in various systems of healthcare. Nurses play a vital role in the happenings as well as preventing medication administration errors. However, medication safety may only happen if a proper environment is created for nurses, pharmacists, and other medical staff. In addition, having more experienced nurses on board will improve quality and safety in medication administration (Whittacker,2018). This paper aims to show data that this is a current issue, the measures currently used to improve the problem, the outcome data related to the standards, and the advantages and disadvantages of the measures.

Question 1: what data shows that this a current issue?

In a cross-sectional study conducted in hospitals found in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, involving 298 nurses selected at random, medication safety was found to be an issue. Questionnaires were used and data collected through self-reporting self-reporting. In addition, direct observation of the nurses while giving medication was also made. The data was then analyzed, and all factors were considered an essential prediction in medical administration errors through a self-report by the nurses.

The result indicated that 203 out of 298 were reported to have committed medication administration errors last year. The contributing factors were such as inadequate work experience, [AOR= 6.45;96%], interruption when administering drugs[ AOR=2.38;96%], night duty shift,[AOR=5,96%] were the predictions of errors in medication administration. P value < 0.05.

Research has also shown that there is at least one error in medication per healthcare facility or hospital daily. Even with improved technology in the health care system, errors are still being experienced in medicine. Another study in North Carolina involving ten hospitals indicated that harm happened in 17.9% of patients admitted. Among the causes of injury, medication is placed the second after the procedure.

Question 2: What are the measures currently used to improve the issue?

Currently, medication safety has been achieved in the following ways; using information technology in the health system to keep and maintain an active medication list. Computerized orders by the physician for medication orders and generating and transmitting prescriptions electronically for non-controlled substances. This computer-based physician order help in ordering drugs for medication, lab test, and diagnostic tests. The computer-based system includes data of the patient, knowledge base in medicine, and even specific advice to a particular case. Electronic prescription involves sending precise and error-free prescription that is understandable. This has reduced dispensing errors and thus improved safety(Hussain,2019).

Education of patients' shared decisions also promotes medication safety. Nurses confirm with the patients if they know the medical state in which a drug has been prescribed. Patients have also been allowed to ask questions to clinicians. Other strategies to enhance medical safety include ensuring references of current medication are updated and available when prescribing the drug. Recognition of medicines that causes high alert when errors occur in medication use is also essential.

Conditions that may affect the effectiveness of medication have also been looked at. They may include the route, dosage, weight of the patient, renal functioning, and other characteristics such as pregnancy. To help solve disruption that is likely to result in medical error, there is no distraction zone in the hospitals, do not disturb signs and colored vest they use to alert colleagues not to interrupt when they are preparing or giving medication. Lastly, understanding patients' state, diagnosis, prescription, and alternative therapy is part of the current practices in ensuring medication safety.

Question 3: What are the outcome data related to the measures?

Studies have shown that these measures are significant in improving the health care sector. If health care put these measures into use, improvement and better care of patients would be realized. Through the use of a computerized system, information that was previously unavailable is provided. And they are reminded of something they might have forgotten. Healthcare workers have become more cautious through these safety measures, and cross-communication between practitioners, pharmacists, and patients has been close. Education of patients on medication has decreased mortality and morbidity. High-risk medications are placed into awareness of the nurses and other medical staff (Whittacker,2018). In addition, improvement in the chain of communication within the healthcare system has increased compliance to safety.

Question 4: What are the advantages and disadvantages of the measures.

Medication safety measures are significant in preventing devastating conditions such as overdoses, reactions that are adverse as well as death. The measures have the following advantages;

Computer base physician orders can order medications, diagnostic and lab tests easily. This can cub the issue of misinterpretation by the pharmacist. The computerized order is understandable, standard, and complete(Hussain,2019). The computer can also generate some information on the patient case using patient data that is keyed in and offer any case-specific advice. Electronic prescription is vital in ensuring information that is free from error and quickly understood by the pharmacist. Similarly, a computerized health system reduces the improper dosage and illegibility in prescriptions caused by handwriting. An automatic medication can also control the poor writing of drugs.

Significant challenges associated with the measures are; implementing health information technology; this challenge can affect its adoption into healthcare(Hussain,2019). The challenges involved are the cost of implementation, resistance from the medical staff, competent use interface, workload and time may increase, and fear of losing control of healthcare.

To sum up, there is an urgency to improve medication safety in the healthcare system. This will help cub most medical errors resulting in mortality. Using the above suggestions will limit errors in medication and educate in efforts to provide safe health care. Quality thus lies in the hands of practitioners, nurses, physicians, pharmacists as well as patients.

References

Whittaker, C. F., Miklich, M. A., Patel, R. S., & Fink, J. C. (2018). Medication safety principles and practice in CKD. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 13(11), 1738-1746.

Hussain, M. I., Reynolds, T. L., & Zheng, K. (2019). Medication safety alert fatigue may be reduced via interaction design and clinical role tailoring: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(10), 1141-1149.