New report confirms medication stats
A new report says medication errors are the most common type of medical errors at health care facilities in the United States, seeming to confirm confirm the findings of a controversial 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.
This is a case you can use to scare people into documenting the findings of a controversial 1999 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.
HCPro, a health care consulting company in Marblehead, MA, announced the results of the survey, which it conducted in an effort to determine the nature and frequency of medical errors in health care facilities. The survey was launched in response to the IOM report that concluded that medical errors in U.S. hospitals may be responsible for up to 98,000 deaths per year. HCPro surveyed about 300 risk- and quality-assurance managers, senior administrators and nonphysician clinical staff members from 380 hospitals participated.
Ninety-four percent of those surveyed reported that medication errors had occurred at their facilities during the past year. Sixty-four percent also said that medication errors were the most frequent medical error, followed by patient falls and delay of treatment.
In addition, 13 respondents said the medication errors had led to deaths. Out of 95 deaths in the past year at the hospitals surveyed, 29 were caused by medication errors.
"While there has been considerable debate over the validity of the IOM findings, our survey clearly indicates that medical errors are a legitimate and critical concern for health care professionals," says Bob Croce, executive editor at HCPro. He notes that the results of the HCPro survey are almost identical to the IOM survey, with medication errors ranking at the number one in both surveys.
In a related effort, VHA Inc. has launched three new medication error reduction initiatives, engaging clinical teams from more than 50 facilities in six states in a collaborative program to quickly reduce the likelihood of medication errors in their hospitals. This brings the total number of hospitals participating in VHA’s Clinical Advantage medication error-reduction initiative to more
than 100 nationwide. VHA is a national alliance of more than 2,000 community-based health care organizations.
The three new programs include hospitals from VHA’s East Coast, Empire States, Pennsylvania, Northeast, and West Coast regions. The medication error initiative focuses on problematic drug labeling, inadequate practitioner and patient education, unrestricted drug access, ambiguous order communication, and error-prone device design. Other areas of concentration include the safe use of insulin, concentrated electrolytes, chemotherapy and drugs such as heparin and warfarin; and the use of automatic dispensing and medication delivery devices.
When errors occur
"The large number of facilities participating in this initiative underscores the importance VHA hospitals place on this issue," says Stuart Baker, MD, VHA’s executive vice president of clinical affairs. "We believe that through efforts such as this, VHA members can lead the way in developing methodologies to avoid unnecessary, costly, and often tragic medication errors."
VHA staff members facilitate the program, together with leadership from the nationally recognized Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Michael Cohen, ISMP president, is VHA’s national chairman for the initiative.
"VHA has a long history of working with its hospitals, business partners, and the ISMP on guidelines and recommendations to improve patient care — from strict labeling standards to innovative information technology solutions," said Cohen. "These hospitals are taking active, significant steps to improve patient care, and we look forward to sharing information with associations and governmental agencies to fix the problems found in an increasingly complex health system."
According to the ISMP, medication errors occur in 5.3% of hospitalized patients, costing health care organizations from $2,500 to $4,500 per episode. More than 40% of these errors are significant or life-threatening, and 1% result in a patient death.
Participants in the medication error initiative also have access to the MedMARx software product from U.S. Pharmacopeia, an Internet-accessible database that confidentially and anonymously documents and tracks medication errors.
The medication error initiative is part of VHA’s Clinical Advantage program, through which interdisciplinary teams at hospitals across the nation apply evidence-based methodologies, measurement tools, and clinical information to improve patient care. The program is organized around specific medical conditions and a framework of resources to accelerate implementation, produce results, and overcome barriers to change. Currently more than 525 organizations and thousands of clinicians are participating in other Clinical Advantage initiatives to improve the treatment of stroke, heart attacks, medication error reduction, breast cancer, congestive heart failure, and patient safety. New initiatives will soon begin for pain management and spreading and sustaining improvements.
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