There are a few categories of medical errors common to hospitals and doctor’s offices. Here are the top three to watch out for and how to prevent them:
Medication related errors
Medications are becoming more and more complicated, in the way they are given, how often, and at at what dose. Medications can be given according to age or weight and/or adjusted by body surface area, and still be subjected to a maximum dose. They can be given every eight hours for the first few days, and then reduced to twice a day. Some medications need to given only before food, and some only after a blood test. All this variation means potential for errors.
The best way to prevent medication mistakes is to be an advocate for your own care:
- Know which medications you are supposed to receive, when, and most importantly, why. If you have an issue, ask your nurse. Know the potential side effects of the medications you are taking.
- Keep with you or your caretaker a list of your current medications, their name, dosage, and how often you are taking them.
- Some medication come labeled with your name, drug name, dose, concentration, and route/rate of administration. Make sure this matches up with what you and your nurse are expecting. Ask your nurse to verify all this information before you receive medication.
- Think ahead with your nurse as to how you will be getting medication when you transfer to a different unit or be discharged from the hospital.
Coordination of Care errors
More complex medical treatments are being given outpatient. That may mean multiple medical appointments and tests. You may have lab test and radiology appointments in between doctor visits. Insurance issues can also impact and delay certain appointments. This also applies inpatient, where a delay in getting your medication or imaging can delay your discharge date.
- Before leaving a doctor’s office or being discharged from the hospital, know what appointments or tests are next, and what decisions or appointments are still outstanding (because of insurance or depending on lab results).
- Sign up for electronic access to your medical records. Many allow you to see and manage the date and time of your next appointment.
- Call the doctor’s office before your visit to make sure they have received all the important information for your upcoming visit. This can include imaging, lab tests, biopsies, previous medical records, etc.
- Ask your doctor about your plan of care, and expected turnaround time. Know what tests or procedures need to be done before a further decision on your care can be made. Know what issues are still pending that is delaying your hospital discharge.
Hand-off Issues
During the course of any inpatient our outpatient treatment, you may interact with dozens of clinical staff, ranging from doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, phlebotomists, social workers, nurse navigators, etc. Each has to be up to date with your current issues and next steps and work together with other staff members. This can be a source of error.
- Learn to tell the story of your current illness. How did it begin? What is your current course of treatment? What decisions need to be made? What medications are you on? What does the future hold?
- If you are admitted to a hospital, nurses and doctors and other staff work in shifts. Ensure that the new nurse or doctor has been given an update on your current progress.
- Have the new nurse double check all of your equipment. Are the infusion running at the correct rate? Are all the tubes and lines clean? Is your urine draining correctly through the catheter without any kinks? Is the oxygen set at the correct rate and at what was prescribed by the doctor?
