Introduction
The paper aims to discuss the problem of medication errors. In medical care, the risks of medication errors pose a significant threat to patient safety. According to Paparella (2018), incorrect prescription of the drug, the use of incorrect dosages, and the wrong medication method can pose a significant danger to the health and even the patient’s life. Such errors can occur for several reasons, such as inadequate use of information technology, incompetence of staff, and reduced concentration of medical staff due to overwork and stress, as reported by Rasool et al. (2020). Reducing the risk of medication errors is essential to ensure patient safety.
Model Proposal
Problem Identification
The proposed model, in three successive stages, will effectively manage the risks of medication errors. First of all, a high-quality system for identifying the problem of drug errors is needed. Each case should be carefully investigated to find out the cause of the incident and possible ways to avoid similar situations in the future.
Risk Management Planning
The second stage is developing a detailed risk management plan in case a systemic problem is identified. This plan should include work with personnel, implementation of reporting, and cross-checks. Medical personnel should be aware of the sources of risk and the dangers of medication errors. The work schedule should be optimized in such a way as to reduce the likelihood of making mistakes due to overwork.
Program Evaluation
After implementing the plan in practice, it is necessary to reassess the risks of drug errors and study the effectiveness of the proposed measures. Medical institutions should collect statistical data on the frequency and nature of drug errors to assess the success of efforts to combat them.
Conclusion
The proposed strategy consists of three steps: identifying the problem, implementing the risk management plan, and evaluating the effectiveness of the measures taken. Suggested options for a plan to reduce the risk of medical errors include working with staff, cross-checking, implementing reporting, and optimizing schedules. The implementation of such a three-stage approach will significantly reduce the risk of drug errors and improve patient safety.
References
Paparella, S. F. (2018). Alignment with the ISMP 2018–2019 targeted medication safety best practices for hospitals. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 44(2), 191–194. Web.
Rasool, M. F., Rehman, A. U., Imran, I., Abbas, S., Shah, S., Abbas, G., Khan, I., Shakeel, S., Ahmad Hassali, M. A., & Hayat, K. (2020). Risk factors associated with medication errors among patients suffering from chronic disorders. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. Web.