Approximately 1.3 million people are injured annually in the United States as the result of so-called “medication errors.” The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention defines a medication error as “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer…related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing; order communication; product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding; dispensing; distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use.” This information can be found in more depth at the following link: http://www.nccmerp.org/consumer-informationThe health care profession is made up of thousands of fallible individuals, just like you and me, who usually provide excellent health care, but do occasionally still make mistakes. Would you be able to spot the mistakes or know whether or not what medication you are being given is within a limit that is appropriate?
