Look-Alike Medication Packages and Patient Safety. Issue 3 (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shao, Shih-Chieh; Lai, Edward Chia-Cheng; Owang, Kok Loon; Chen, Hui-Yu; Chan, Yuk-Ying
• Is Part Of: Journal of patient safety. Volume 14:Issue 3(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: medication errors -- dispensing errors -- look-alike medication packages; Patients -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Practice -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; Medical errors -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 610.289
• DOI: 10.1097/PTS.0000000000000506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1549-8417

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: Medication errors substantially threaten patient safety, and their prevention requires clinical vigilance. We present a case of taking the wrong drug due to a dispensing error by pharmacists involving medication packaging confusion, and we report how we prevent similar dispensing errors by thorough investigation and intervention. This case emphasizes the need for constant attention by hospital, medical industry, and regulatory authorities to avoid look-alike medication packaging in the interest of medication safety.