Preventing Errors

Question 1

Describe cognitive errors

Answer 1

Incorrect diagnosis or choosing the wrong medication

More likely to have been preventable

More likely to result in permanent disability than technical errors

Question 2

What patient’s are mot at risk of error?

Answer 2

Those undergoing cardiothoracic, vascular or neurosurgery

Those with complex conditions

Emergency room

Those looked after by inexperienced doctors

Older patients

Question 3

What could increase rate of medication errors?

Answer 3

More rapid throughput of patients

New drug developments

Increasing complexity of medical care

Increased specialisation

Increased use of medicines generally

Sicker and older patients

Question 4

What are some common prescribing errors?

Answer 4

Wrong drug
Wrong dose
Inappropriate units
Poor/illegible presriptions
Failure to take account of DIs
Omission
Wrong route/multiple routes
Calculation errors

Question 5

What should you always check when prescribing?

Answer 5

Patient age, weight, renal and hepatic function

Concurrent diseases, lab test results, concurrent medications, allergies

Med / surgical / family history

Pregnancy

Question 6

Describe the 5 Rs of prescribing medications

Answer 6

Right patient
Right drug
Right dose
Right route
Right time

Question 7

What is the CHM?

Answer 7

Commission on Human Medicines

• advises ministers on matters relating to human medicinal products
• advises licensing authority
• considers representations by an applicant of MA holder
• promotes collection and investigation of information relating to ADRs to human medicines

Question 8

Describe the SMC

Answer 8

Scottish Medicines Consortium

Established by Scottish government 2001

Principle remit to make decisions on cost-effectiveness of new/existing pharma products in respect of their use in NHS Scotland