Using the Lean Six Sigma (DMAIC Framework) for Risk Elimination of Medication Errors at Kemang Medical Care

Abstract

Introduction – Medication error is very undesirable in healthcare because it has a great risk of causing worsening patient condition. There are many factors that can lead to medication errors. One of them is small difference in mentioning, the absence of sufficient symbol for trade name, caused by similar volumes, sizes, colors, shapes, and letters from the labels. The risk of medication errors can be eliminated by direct methods such as the use of symbols and words, which are clear and easily distinguishable. In addition, the packaging of dosage and drug distribution systems is performed carefully to address medication errors.Methodology – The method we apply was similar because it was basically a part of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) project at KMC as a whole. The DMAIC method applied in KMC for this project.Results - On April 2015, we found documentation error and time error in 15 medical record documents recording 24 drug services. Documentation error was recorded at 37.5% or 9 drug service error. On May 2015, we recorded three drug services in 9 medical records. On June 2015, we found 21% documentation error in 8 medical record documents examined. Discussion - The application of LSS at KMC provides positive effects on the reduction of medication errors. Indeed, medication errors can be derived from the drug factory itself or its writing that is not clear from doctors as well as the use of the wrong methods in medical testing. Even so, through the initial steps of DMAIC and methods such as 5S, layout redesigning, doctor habit observations, and kanban, the risk of medication errors can be reduced.