Planning for the Inevitable: Medication Errors

Although technology and automation have contributed to improvements in the area of medication error prevention, wrong-drug and wrong-dose dispensing errors continue to occur because of system failures and human factor errors. Reviewing medication errors that have happened at other practice sites and conducting RCA with action plans as medications errors occur will help pharmacists follow safe medication practices and keep patients safe. The content of this presentation will cover case studies of medication errors and review the root cause analysis (RCA) and action plan development processes, demonstrating the benefit of both as a preventative measure.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be able to:

• Discuss the types of errors most likely to cause a sentinel event.
• Review best practices aimed at reducing medication errors in your pharmacy.
• Describe root cause analysis and when it should be conducted in your pharmacy.
• Identify risk management strategies in the medication use process that can minimize or prevent medication errors.

Presenter

Donna Horn, MS, RPh, DPh, CHC is a Senior Ethics and Compliance Officer at Fresenius Medical Care, North America (FMCNA) supporting the pharmacy and laboratory businesses. Concurrently, Donna is a Senior Associate at Gates Healthcare Associates where she advises clients on community pharmacy practice, regulatory compliance, medication safety initiatives and continuous quality improvement matters. Previously Donna directed ISMP’s patient safety activities in community/ambulatory practice for over 12 years.

Donna also provides direct student instruction at MCPHS as a preceptor in the APM lab. At the University of Florida, she teaches ‘Preventing Medication Errors’ to graduate students enrolled in the College of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Program. She has more than 25 years of experience in the retail/chain community pharmacy practice setting, as the Privacy Officer and Manager of Regulatory Affairs for Brooks/ Eckerd Pharmacy and as a pharmacist and Regional Pharmacy Manager for OSCO Drug. Donna received a BS in Pharmacy from MCPHS. She received a Graduate Certificate in Patient Safety and Medication Use and a master’s degree in Patient Safety and Medication Risk Management from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Program.

Registration Fee: Free for MCPHS alumni and full-time staff; $12.00 for all other professionals.

Release Date: December 16, 2022
Expiration Date: December 15, 2023
ACPE UAN: 0026-0000-22-019-H05-P | Knowledge
ACPE UAN: 0026-0000-22-019-H05-T | Knowledge
ACPE Topic Designator: Patient Safety
Contact Hours: 1 (0.1 CEU)