JOINT COMMISSION RESOURCES CONSULTING
Pay-Per-View Article: Pediatric Medication Errors: Using the National Patient Safety Goals to Protect Patients
Joint Commission Perspectives on Patient Safety, Volume 8, Number 6, June 2008, pp. 1-5(5)
Abstract
In April 2008, The Joint Commission issued a Sentinel Event Alert on pediatric medication errors. Medication error rates in pediatric patients are similar to those in adults, but potentially harmful errors occur three times as often in pediatric patients. The potential for error is higher in pediatrics than in the adult population due to a number of factors. Medications are generally formulated and packed in doses or volumes for adults; health care organizations are then responsible for preparing and/or repackaging drugs for use with children.
Pay-Per-View Article: Reducing Pediatric Medication Errors
Joint Commission: The Source, Volume 5, Number 10, October 2007, pp. 1-6(6)
AbstractFinding and correcting errors in the medication management process is an activity all health care organizations have in common. The risks associated with various procedures—such as verbal orders and reconciling all patient medications, as well as the problems presented by polypharmacy in geriatric patients—have received a great deal of attention. Medication errors that occur within the pediatric population, however, are a separate and vitally important area that must be given special attention and consideration.