Health care providers assume that patients will take medications as directed at home. A recent study found that the rate of out-of-hospital serious medication errors reported to U.S. poison control centers doubled between 2000 and 2012. These at-home medication errors often lead to one-third of these error cases in being hospitalized, (Nichole Hodges, Ph.D., lead author of the study and research scientist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio (J Clin Toxicol.).
Cardiovascular medications errors are the highest with 21% of serious adverse events, these events were associated with more serious medical complications. Additionally, cardiovascular and analgesic medications combined to account for 66% of all the deaths that occurred during the study period. The most commonly occurring errors involved patients taking or giving the wrong medication or incorrect dosage, and inadvertently taking or giving a medication twice.
The pharmacist can help ensure that patients understand how prescribed medications should be taken at home, especially for individuals who cannot read or write. Can patients or caregivers repeat back the correct dose and do they know when it should be taken or administered? How do they organize and store medications at home? Do they have a system in place for ensuring they take the right medication at the right time?
Pharmacist are easily accessible and can help the patient ensure correct medication Use
