Medication Error Prevention
According to the Institute of Medicine's 1999 report, “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System,” approximately 7,000 deaths each year are related to medication errors. In response to the IOM’s report, all parts of the U.S. health system put error reduction strategies into high gear by re-evaluating and strengthening checks and balances to prevent errors.
Here at the U-M Health System, we have designed and implemented a major initiative to reduce medication error, called UM-CareLink.
The following organizations are in charge of medication error reporting, education and correction:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The FDA accepts reports from consumers and health care professionals about products regulated by the FDA, including drugs and medical devices, through MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program. You also may be interested in “Strategies to Reduce Medication Errors: Working to Improve Medication Safety” – a publication that explains the factors involved in medication errors – and recommends improvements such as computerized physician order entry systems in hospitals and other health care organizations. Phone: 1-800-332-1088
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
The ISMP accepts reports from consumers and health care professionals related to medication. The ISMP publishes Safe Medicine, a consumer newsletter on medication errors. Phone: 215-947-7797.
