Introduction
Medication errors refer to the inappropriate use of medications, especially when the patient is under the care of a medical professional. Medication errors are a global healthcare problem common among medical professionals. They can harm the patient and, in extreme cases, cause death. The errors also introduce cost implications through unnecessary hospital stays among patients. Wrong infusion rates and doses are the main causes of medication errors in addition to drugs with similar names. Nurses contribute most of the errors due to their critical role in executing orders. The persistent number of errors in healthcare despite the introduction of electronic health records inspires my interest in this topic.
My objective is to understand the root cause of the problem, which would guide potential solutions. A recent encounter with medication errors was a misadministration of potassium chloride. The patient had mild potassium deficiency, and the nurse infused an amount reserved for people with a severe case of hypokalemia. The results were severe, and the patient had to be booked in for observation. Addressing medical errors would promote patient safety and save the healthcare sector costs associated with the problem.
Search Criteria
The journals used in the bibliography were methodically selected and retrieved from credible databases. The search criteria included a filter to return peer-reviewed journals only. The filter was also limited to five years to ensure that recent journals were the only ones retrieved. Keywords used in the search included medical errors, systems, incident reporting, causes, and mitigation strategies. Retrieved articles were then excluded based on their relevance in addressing the topic of study. Non-English journals were excluded from the range of articles returned by the search criteria. Thus, the search criteria utilized ensured that only current and relevant sources from credible sources were included in the bibliography.
Annotated Bibliography
Ambwani, S., Misra, A., & Kumar, R. (2019). Medication errors: Is it the hidden part of the submerged iceberg in our health-care system? International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research, 9(3), 135-142. Web.
The authors also provide insights into the impact of medication errors on the healthcare sector and suggest a solution. The impacts highlighted include fatalities, lowered drug efficacy, and a high-cost burden. The journal submits that medication errors occur due to events that relate to professional practice, procedures, products, communication, and systems. The paper suggests establishing a system that encourages prompt reporting of medication errors. It further suggests that such a system should involve all the stakeholders and not pass judgment or penalties to those contributing to the errors. Adopting such a system would encourage reporting of errors and thus guide prompt action.
The journal is relevant since it provides useful insights into my topic of interest. The information is also recent, given that the journal was published in 2019. This means it contains relevant statistics and concepts on medical errors. Therefore, the source will enrich my study on medication errors.
Mutair, A. A., Alhumaid, S., Shamsan, A., Abdul Rehman, Z. Z., Mohaini, M. A., Mutairi, A. A., Rabaan, A. A., Awad, M., & Al-Omari, A. (2021). The Effective Strategies to Avoid Medication Errors and Improving Reporting Systems. Medicines, 8(9), 46. Web.
The journal focuses on the development of systems for effective medication error reporting. The authors identify four major elements that inspire or demotivate medics from disclosing errors as a foundation for the article. These are patient elements, provider elements, error elements, and cultural elements. Despite the laws requiring disclosure of errors, nurses still hold back for fear of consequences. According to the authors, incident reporting is key to responding to the issue at hand and developing preventive measures. Therefore, the journal contributes to the development of effective mitigation strategies against medication errors.
The journal is relevant to my study because it helps identify the reasons behind the non-disclosure of medication errors. The source will shape the recommendations that I will suggest to mitigate the problem. It is important to nurture an institutional culture that supports incidence reporting. Thus, the article serves to provide vital information for my study.
Trakulsunti, Y., & Antony, J. (2018). Can Lean Six Sigma be used to reduce medication errors in the health-care sector? Leadership in Health Services, 31(4), 426-433. Web.
The authors of this journal propose the adoption of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in healthcare to help reduce medication errors. The practice is popular in business, and its advantages have been witnessed by corporates integrating the model. The journal recommends LSS based on four analyzed cases. The authors suggest LSS in the backdrop of its success in promoting patient safety, satisfaction, and quality care. According to the journal, LLS can enhance the conduciveness of the work environment and, by extension, reduce pressure and workload on staff. They believe that its adoption in managing medication errors could significantly reduce incidences and thus promote safety.
The journal is relevant to my topic since my objective is to reduce medication errors. The proposed model is worth reviewing for possible adoption, given its success in other fields. Therefore, the journal would provide vital information on developing an evidence-based mitigation framework against medication errors.
Jaam, M., Lina, M. N., Tarteel, A. H., & Pawluk, S. A. (2021). Pharmacist-led educational interventions provided to healthcare providers to reduce medication errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 16(6). Web.
The recently published journal provides insightful information on education-based strategies against medication errors. It acknowledges the role of education in combating the healthcare issues in healthcare. The authors identify pharmacists as essential agents in the education process. A significant percentage of the errors recorded in hospitals could be avoided by educating medical professionals on pharmaceutical processes. Such a program would include all the medical practitioners handling medications from prescription to administration. The authors recommend face-to-face education supplemented by written materials to act as reminders. Therefore, education, as offered by the journal, is the ultimate solution to managing medication errors.
The journal is in sync with the objectives of my study as one of my aims is to understand effective mitigation approaches. Prioritizing education is one of my strategies to minimize the identified healthcare problem, and the article provides an alternative to technical interventions. Therefore, the journal supplies scientific knowledge that is current and relevant to my study.
Summary of Knowledge Acquired
Main Points Learned
- The research exercise has helped me learn how to select relevant sources from a pool of potential materials.
- I now appreciate the need for backing up my research and other future write-ups with credible references.
- It is vital to pay attention to the currency, relevancy, and credibility when citing sources to enhance the quality of studies.
- It also increased my knowledge of medication errors relating to causes and prevention strategies.
The sources chosen have enhanced my knowledge and understanding of medication errors in the healthcare sector. The first journal analyzed the current situation on the healthcare problem while suggesting tolerant incidence reporting systems.
The second source was instrumental in suggesting effective counter-strategies against the problem under investigation. The third journal explored the possible adoption of Lean Six Sigma in managing medication errors, while the last article endorsed pharmacy-led education programs in mitigating the issue. These sources broadened my understanding of the healthcare problem and offered important medication errors prevention insights that will shape my practice. The information is crucial and enriching as it will help me adopt strategies that will enhance patient safety. Therefore, the research process was both informative and impactful to my medical career.
References
Ambwani, S., Misra, A., & Kumar, R. (2019). Medication errors: Is it the hidden part of the submerged iceberg in our health-care system? International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research, 9(3), 135-142. Web.
Jaam, M., Lina, M. N., Tarteel, A. H., & Pawluk, S. A. (2021). Pharmacist-led educational interventions provided to healthcare providers to reduce medication errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 16(6). Web.
Mutair, A. A., Alhumaid, S., Shamsan, A., Abdul Rehman, Z. Z., Mohaini, M. A., Mutairi, A. A., Rabaan, A. A., Awad, M., & Al-Omari, A. (2021). The Effective Strategies to Avoid Medication Errors and Improving Reporting Systems. Medicines, 8(9), 46. Web.
Trakulsunti, Y., & Antony, J. (2018). Can Lean Six Sigma be used to reduce medication errors in the health-care sector? Leadership in Health Services, 31(4), 426-433. Web.