Pennsylvania's Patient Safety Authority says 23 % of reported events are medication errors

Patient Safety Monitor Alert

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October 3, 2007

Medication errors continue to rank high among reported events to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System, the mandatory system set up by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. The main reasons medication errors remain so often reported are confusing medication labels and directions, and the use of look-alike, sound-alike drugs.

Of the 23% of reported events, only 1% actually harmed a patient. The advisory also highlighted some other areas of caution: Timeliness when transporting patients, potential risks for patient with sleep apnea, and the potential for behavioral health patients to harm themselves while inside a facility.

To read the full advisory, click here