Group items tagged

Errors of any kind in medical settings can have dire consequences for patients and healthcare systems. Unfortunately, negligence, misdiagnosis, and medication errors aren't uncommon in the UK. In this article, we discuss the nature of medication errors in the NHS, outline potential causes, and delve into how and why technology could be turning the tide on the issue. Prevalence and consequences of medication errors Medication errors are incidents involved with the administering, prescribing, dispensing or monitoring of medicine to patients. It can happen at many different steps in the healthcare process and by any medical professional in the system. Many cases are avoidable. According to analysis from BMJ, there are an estimated 237 million medication errors made in England every year. The majority of these are minor errors, but 1 in 4 cases has the potential to cause moderate to serious harm to patients. Not only do these errors cost the NHS significantly, at almost £100 million every year, but there is a shocking cost to public health. Lives are being lost because of medication errors which is unforgivable and tragic for the families involved. Drains on NHS resources have widespread impacts on public health and the operations of healthcare organisations up and down the country. Individual errors and mistakes may seem inconsequential (in minor cases), but they all add up in the big picture to a significant concern for policymakers.

Explore Medical Errors CME/CE Conferences, Meetings, and Online CME Courses. Register for upcoming 2022 Medical Errors Conferences & earn CME/CE Credits.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recalled Labetalol 200mg tablets (Tillomed Laboratories Ltd) directed to pharmacies and wholesalers. Manufacturer, Tillomed Laboratories is recalling one batch of Labetalol 200mg tablets due to an error on the foil blister packaging. The incorrect aluminium foil blister packaging states Labetalol 100mg tablets, however it should be labelled as Labetalol 200mg Tablets. This error has occurred at the primary packing operation. Tillomed Laboratories Limited has confirmed the actual tablet contained in the blister is Labetalol 200mg Tablets, which is the strength stated on the outer carton. This error is limited to the packaging of the batch with 100mg aluminium foil blister and does not impact the lot (batch) number or expiry as printed on the outer carton and aluminium foil blister. Healthcare professionals has been advised to stop supplying the batches immediately. Quarantine all remaining stock and return it to supplier using supplier's approved process.

Issues in Preventing Medical Errors Volume 2 is organized by Hatherleigh Medical Education. Legal Issues of Psychiatric Malpractice in Suicide Cases & More

The Baxter SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System is redefining smart technology with Second Generation software to help prevent pump-related medication errors. The SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System provides multiple error prevention systems along with bi-directional wireless communication and comprehensive log analysis software to create CQI reports. SIGMA Spectrum pump provides rapid, intuitive work-flow using a bright, easy to read color display and on-board digital help screens. SIGMA Spectrum pump also provides economic value by utilizing Baxter's standard IV administration sets.

The Baxter SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System is redefining smart technology with Second Generation software to help prevent pump-related medication errors. The SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System provides multiple error prevention systems along with bi-directional wireless communication and comprehensive log analysis software to create CQI reports. SIGMA Spectrum pump provides rapid, intuitive work-flow using a bright, easy to read color display and on-board digital help screens.

The Baxter SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System is redefining smart technology with Second Generation software to help prevent pump-related medication errors. The SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System provides multiple error prevention systems along with bi-directional wireless communication and comprehensive log analysis software to create CQI reports. SIGMA Spectrum pump provides rapid, intuitive work-flow using a bright, easy to read color display and on-board digital help screens. SIGMA Spectrum pump also provides economic value by utilizing Baxter's standard IV administration sets *Refurbished *1-Year Warranty

EHR technologies can help prevent medical errors by highlighting potential drug interactions and adverse reactions. Today, a number of features have been integrated into EHR systems which can prompt alerts for drug-food or drug-drug interactions. Moreover, it can check for allergies, and previous documentation of adverse reactions to a particular drug thus avoiding a medical error.

EHR technologies can help prevent medical errors by highlighting potential drug interactions and adverse reactions. Today, a number of features have been integrated into EHR systems which can prompt alerts for drug-food or drug-drug interactions. Moreover, it can check for allergies, and previous documentation of adverse reactions to a particular drug thus avoiding a medical error.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate patient counselling takes place and patients are aware of the missing information on the patient information leaflet (PIL) of Decongestant Tablets and Decongestant with Pain Relief Tablets. The advise came after Boots has identified an error with the printed PIL provided with batches of the tablets. Check the website for more information.

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) has reminded Community pharmacy contractors to ensure that the correct flu vaccines are being used for each patient cohort. The pharmacies have also been asked to ensure that they recorded accurately in the patient's clinical record for the NHS Flu Vaccination Service. The move was followed by PSNC after the cases where the standard egg-cultured quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVe) was administered in the 65 years and over patient cohort. PSNC said: "On investigation, it appears that a number of these errors are due to data input errors; however, it is important to be careful when selecting a flu vaccine for this patient cohort as there is no provision for the use of the QIVe vaccine in patients aged 65 years and over in the NHS Flu Vaccination Service." The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised it is not an effective intervention for patients aged 65 years and over.

Prevention of Medical Errors for Florida Healthcare Professionals is organized by Wild Iris Medical Education, Inc and will be held from Jul 21, 2022 - May 01, 2024

New legislative orders approved by the Privy Council will give the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) powers to set professional standards for Responsible Pharmacists, Superintendent Pharmacists and Chief Pharmacists. The Pharmacy (Preparation and Dispensing Errors - Hospital (and Other Pharmacy Services) Order 2022 and the Pharmacy (Responsible Pharmacists, Superintendent Pharmacists etc.) Order 2022 have been published and are expected to come into force in December 2022. Trevor Patterson, Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society NI said: "We have been working with our colleagues in the GPhC and Government for some time on these two pieces of important legislation and we are delighted they have now reached the statute books. "Both Orders enable and enhance the powers we, and the GPhC, have to define the roles and responsibilities of Responsible, Superintendent and Chief Pharmacists, respectively. They also create protections against criminal prosecution for hospital pharmacists where an inadvertent error is made either in dispensing or assembly, in certain defined circumstances, similar to the protections available to colleagues working in community/registered pharmacy settings. Provisions that allow the appointment of a Deputy Registrar for our organisation will also be introduced.

Human Factors, Psychological Safety, and Strategies for Error-Proofing A Medical Practice is organized by eMedEvents Corporation from May 23, 2022 - May 23, 2023

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) recently issued a public apology after they mistakenly referred to pharmacy technicians as 'pharmacist technicians' in a council paper. It has also written a letter of apology to the President of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK) for the error they made. Meanwhile, the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) has raised concern about an equally worrying trend in which pharmacists are being referred to by the GPhC and others as 'pharmacy professionals', a term that is also used for pharmacy technicians. The association said this creates confusion in the minds of the public about the two roles and responsibilities, which are very different, as well as have impact upon the workplace.

Human Error Investigations, Root Cause Determination, and CAPA Effectiveness are organized by ComplianceOnline

The professional leadership body for pharmacists has urged the General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC) to make it mandatory to have a chief pharmacist within organisations to ensure transparency for patients, the public and pharmacy staff. On 23 January, the GPhC launched a consultation seeking views on the new draft Standards for Chief Pharmacists it has developed to strengthen pharmacy governance. These standards outlined the professional responsibilities and qualifications required by a chief pharmacist to support their organisation and its staff to deliver "safe and effective" pharmacy services. The pharmacy regulator highlighted the importance of having a registered chief pharmacist meeting these standards in hospitals (or relevant settings) to benefit from the new legislation regarding accidental errors. In response to the consultation, the RPS expressed that while meeting these standards could enhance pharmacy governance, they may not provide the framework needed to fully support staff in reporting and learning from errors.

Are you struggling with the fact that you really don't know anything about how to get into shape? If you're busy living in yesterday's errors, many of your decisions will be founded on guilt and shame instead of what you really want (and need) to accomplish to achieve your goals. Real change comes from day-to-day choices and becoming mindful and basing your choices on what you need now (rather than what you did or didn't do yesterday) will make your exercise life much more passable. What if I can offer you a solution that will help you to attain greatness, to become a success and learn about the best ways to get in shape? In this book, you will learn about: - Navigate the Astral Plane - MIRROR MADNESS - The Health Zen - Vitamin Vitality - Native American Healing - Boost your Health with Gua Sha - Beautiful Body Essential - Secret of Food Combination - Lose Weight Fasting - Child Diet - many other useful things!

Are you struggling with the fact that you really don't know anything about how to get into shape? If you're busy living in yesterday's errors, many of your decisions will be founded on guilt and shame instead of what you really want (and need) to accomplish to achieve your goals. Real change comes from day-to-day choices and becoming mindful and basing your choices on what you need now (rather than what you did or didn't do yesterday) will make your exercise life much more passable. What if I can offer you a solution that will help you to attain greatness, to become a success and learn about the best ways to get in shape? In this book, you will learn about: - Navigate the Astral Plane - MIRROR MADNESS - The Health Zen - Vitamin Vitality - Native American Healing - Boost your Health with Gua Sha - Beautiful Body Essential - Secret of Food Combination - Lose Weight Fasting - Child Diet - many other useful things!

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has published a consultation to review the 'Professional standards for the reporting, learning, sharing, taking action and review of incidents error reporting' in collaboration with Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK and Pharmacy Forum of Northern Ireland. The consultation is open from 21 April 2023 until 2 June 2023 and are due to be published in early 2024. All three professional leadership bodies are calling for contributions from anyone using the standards to ensure they are clear, current, relevant and fit for purpose. "The review affects all pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, trainees and members of the pharmacy team working in all sectors across the UK," RPS said. "The standards may also be of interest to the public, people who use pharmacy and healthcare services, healthcare and professionals working with pharmacy teams.

The UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said mistakes at a testing laboratory led to misreporting of tens of thousands of positive COVID-19 cases as negative and may have resulted in the deaths of about 20 people. Britain has one of the highest coronavirus death tolls in the world, with more than 177,000 deaths since the pandemic started in 2020. Many experts have said the contact tracing programme fell well short of the "world-beating" system the government had promised. An investigation by the government agency responsible for responding to public health emergencies said the Immensa laboratory in central England was found to have misreported around 39,000 tests as negative when they should have been positive between September 2 and October 12 last year.