Medication Errors That Can Occur During Documentation
Watch the video below to learn more about medication errors that can occur during manual and electronic prescription documentation.
Learn More:
How Do Medication Errors Arise? Examples Of Medication Errors
Who Should You Call When Prescription Medications Cause Issues?
Issues That Can Arise With Prescription Medications
Video Transcript
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:20 Medication Errors: Manual Prescription Documentation
0:47 Medication Errors: Electronic Prescription Documentation
A prescription is ordered and needs to be documented. How does a prescription order get documented?
0:20 Medication Errors: Manual Prescription Documentation
We still can have our providers write out the medication, in other words, manual documentation. There’s some issues that can arise there, not the least of which is can the prescription be, is it interpretable. Can you actually read the handwriting or can that handwriting be reasonably interpreted in more than one way? This could be a problem and has been a problem.
0:47 Medication Errors: Electronic Prescription Documentation
The other way to document a prescription order is electronically or digitally. When a prescription is written digitally or electronically, you have the possibility that the, again, you have the same issues with regard to the wrong medication or spelling errors, what have you. There’s a hope that electronic prescriptions is less error-prone than the manually written prescriptions, but we still have encountered errors even as we have transitioned from more and more from manual writing of prescriptions to digital or electronic prescriptions.
And again, if you want to learn more about this process, I invite you to continue with this series of videos so that you have a better understanding of the entire prescription medication ordering process.
The right medication can make a difference in people’s lives, especially if they improve their quality of life. A healthcare professional who fails to properly prescribe, administer or dispense medication can cause severe and adverse health effects. Our Philadelphia medication error lawyers are here to help you if you find yourself in such a position.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 82 percent of Americans take at least one medication. Although many of these medications are beneficial to their users, adverse drug reactions can result in approximately 1.3 million visits to the emergency room each year. 350,000 of these visitors are hospitalized. There are many reasons for these events, but one of the most worrying is medical professionals making errors.
You have the right to file a medical malpractice case if you believe that your doctor or another healthcare provider made a mistake in prescribing medication. This could cause financial or physical complications. Shrager & Sachs attorneys are available to assist you.
Common Prescription Drug Mistakes
Using Wrong Dosages or Medications
Although hospitals are often overstaffed and understaffed, that doesn’t mean they can’t administer the correct medication or dosage. A patient may be subject to serious consequences if there is a communication or other error.
This can also occur if there is a mistake in the medication chain. A lot of times, a doctor will give a prescription for medication. The nurse will then receive the information and the pharmacist will get the order. Patients may receive too many or too few medications if paperwork is not correctly transcribed or their handwriting is unclear.
If the medication is not administered correctly, mistakes can be made. Different medications should be administered in different ways. A nurse who gives medication to a patient in an incorrect place in their body could cause it to not reach its intended destination and render it ineffective.
Mislabeling of Medications
Mislabeled medication can occur during manufacturing or at the pharmacy. A manufacturing company may incorrectly label a medication, which could lead to a product liability case.
You may be given the wrong dosage or medication if the pharmacy mislabeled your medication. The consequences could worsen or cause new problems. Our lawyers can review your case to determine who is responsible and who should be held accountable for your injuries.
Prescription of Harmful Medications
It is the pharmacist’s responsibility to track patients’ allergies and what medications they are taking. A pharmacist who fails to follow up on this can cause a patient to have dangerous interactions with multiple medications or an allergic reaction that could lead to death.
However, your doctor is still responsible if you are given a dangerous medication. It is possible that they may be held responsible if they fail to properly review your medical history and medication list.
Failure to warn of side effects
Multiple healthcare professionals have to ensure you are fully informed about the potential side effects of any medication that you take. Patients should be informed by their doctors, pharmacists, and nurses about side effects as well as possible interactions with other medications.
These things may not be mentioned by your doctor. You have the right to ask questions and get an explanation.
The Consequences Of Medication Errors
There are many ways medication errors can cause serious side effects. Some cases may have minor consequences, while others could result in death. It all depends on what the error is. It is often most dangerous to prescribe harmful medication that causes allergic reactions.
Most often, victims of medication errors suffer financial and physical consequences. Some patients might develop a new condition that will require treatment. Others may feel worsening symptoms or worsening. Most cases require extended treatment, which may delay returning to work.
RAPID RESPONSE WITH SOLID ANSWERS TO YOUR SERIOUS QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR CASE
Because we have in-house medical know-how, we can evaluate the medical questions in your case and provide answers without a lengthy wait. Our internal process involves getting the issues in your case quickly in front of the right physician attorney who, based on his or her medical experience and training, is most likely to have the answers you seek about whether you have a case and how we might help you get the compensation you deserve to help secure a brighter future for you and for your loved ones.