AVOIDING MEDICATION MISTAKES
Errors in medication distribution harm approxmately 1.5 milion people every year. Medication errors usually occur when doctors give doses that are much higher than needed or give doses to a patient twice accidentally. The Institute of Medicine reported that at least 530,000 medication errors occurr outside of hospitals in a given year. CNN's news site listed five ways for patient's to prevent medication error. The first way is to know exactly what the doctor is prescribing you and at what dosage. Don't walk out of the doctor's office confused. The second way is to check your prescription at the pharmacist. Make sure it is the right name, medication, and dose. Third, when in the hospital, get your medication and dosage in writing. That way, if a nurse should enter to give you the same dosage a second time, you will know it. Fourth, check IV bags and medication before receiving the dose from doctors. Make sure it says your name and information. Lastly, be dramatic. If you see that a doctor or nurse is about to administer a drug other than that which was prescribed, make them check before it is taken.
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