Chapter 40 - Medication safety and medication error prevention

Abstract

Since the 1999 National Academy of Medicine report, To Err is Human and the 2007 report, Preventing Medication Errors, pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy leaders have increased their focus on improving medication safety in their organizations. Many organizations have created specific positions dedicated to overseeing the analysis of medication errors and implementing medication error prevention strategies for high-risk medications and error-prone processes. With the growth of pharmacy involvement in ambulatory care, increased use of patient simulations, and advances in electronic health record technology, medication safety leaders are advancing the way medication errors are analyzed. Medication safety leaders must navigate the impact of emerging regulations and accreditation standards, drug shortages, and other disruptive forces in healthcare.