MEDICAL ERROR

Course overview

A MEDICAL ERROR IS A PREVENTABLE ADVERSE EFFECT OF MEDICAL CARE, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS EVIDENT OR HARMFUL TO THE PATIENT. AMONG THE PROBLEMS THAT COMMONLY OCCUR DURING PROVIDING HEALTH CARE ARE ADVERSE DRUG EVENTS AND IMPROPER TRANSFUSIONS, MISDIAGNOSIS, UNDER AND OVERTREATMENT, SURGICAL INJURIES AND WRONG-SITE SURGERY, SUICIDES, RESTRAINT-RELATED INJURIES OR DEATH, FALLS, BURNS, PRESSURE ULCERS, AND MISTAKEN PATIENT IDENTITIES. HIGH ERROR RATES WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, OPERATING ROOMS, AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. MEDICAL ERRORS ARE ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREMES OF AGE, NEW PROCEDURES, URGENCY, AND THE SEVERITY OF THE MEDICAL CONDITION BEING TREATED. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES COMMON SOURCES OF MEDICAL ERRORS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING THE CARE OF THE PATIENT AND ENHANCING SAFETY BY USING TECHNIQUES TO AVOID ERRORS.