Medication errors: an overview for clinicians

The Institute of Medicine in the US has estimated that medication errors cause one in 131 outpatient deaths and many more morbidities.  "Medication errors: an overview for clinicians" is an article recently published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings and its authors provide an overview of medical errors, including definitions, incidence, risk factors, avoidance strategies and legal consequences.

Medication errors can be precipitated by many factors, ranging from the confusion which may arise from the similar labeling or naming of different drugs to poor communication between health professionals.  Strategies that have been used to overcome these problems are discussed.

Wittich CM, Burkle CM, Lanier WL, Mayo Clinic proceedings.89(8):1116-25.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.05.007

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