Small Size, Big Risk: Preventing Neonatal and Pediatric Medication Errors

Abstract

medication mMedication errors pose a significant risk to all patient populations. However, neonates, infants and children are at particularly high risk for adverse outcomes that may occur after medication errors. Currently, a high level of attention is being given to a reduction in the incidence of medication errors, particularly in the hospital setting. A report by the Institute of Medicine [IOM] (1999) indicated that between 50,000 and 98,000 people die each year in the United States as a result of medical errors, with medication errors being the most common. According to this report, these errors were due primarily to faulty systems, faulty processes and work conditions that led to mistakes or the failure to prevent them. As a result of this landmark report, health care institutions began to closely investigate the exact causes of adverse events, and efforts to minimize medical errors were put into place. Interestingly, there has not been a dramatic decrease in the number of errors over the past 10 years since this report was disseminated. However, with the integration of technology and a change of culture to one in which safety is paramount, an improvement in health care delivery is anticipated. Medication errors are more common in neonates, infants and children than in adults. A study by Bates et al. (1995) revealed a 6.5 percent rate of adverse drug events in the adult inpatient setting. According to Takata, Mason, Takemoto, Logsdon, and Sharek (2008), 11.1 percent of all pediatric patients experience an adverse drug event. Of these, 22 percent were Lisa Broussard, RN, DNS, CNE Small Size, Big Risk