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Information and links to help patients and families through their frequently challenging healthcare journeys — and the aftermath. This not intended to be a comprehensive list of resources. Patients and families are wise to do their own searches for information and authorities that are relevant to their specific circumstances.
What is a MEDICAL error?
| “An act of commission (doing something wrong) or omission (failing to do the right thing) that leads to an undesirable outcome or significant potential for such an outcome. For instance, ordering a medication for a patient with a documented allergy to that medication would be an act of commission. Failing to prescribe a proven medication with major benefits for an eligible patient (e.g., low-dose unfractionated heparin as venous thromboembolism prophylaxis for a patient after hip replacement surgery) would represent an error of omission.” Source: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality | Patient Safety Network | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
What is a MEDICATION error?
“A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing, order communication, product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use.” Source: National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention
For Canadian patients:
Other Helpful Links:
- AARP
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
- AGS BEERS CRITERIA
FOR POTENTIALLY INAPPROPRIATE
MEDICATION USE IN OLDER ADULTS - American Hospital Association
- American Pharmacists Association
- American Society of Health System Pharmacists
- Be MedWise
- Centres for Disease Control
- Food and Drug Administration
- Food and Drug Administration – MedWatch Program
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices
- The Joint Commission
- National Council on Patient Information and Education
- Medication Use Safety Training
- Medicine Safety
- National Coordinating Council for Medication Error, Reporting and Prevention
- National Institutes of Health
- National Patient Safety Foundation
- National Quality Forum
- Partnership for Prescription Assistance
- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
- SeniorCarePharmacist.com
- United States Pharmacopeia
- University of Arizona Medical Center Guide for Trauma Patients
- Canadian Institute for Patient Safety
- Health Canada
- Health Quality Ontario (Hospital self-reporting under certain key categories of patient safety)
- Healthy Debate
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices (Canada)
- Our Health Systems
- Suggested patient complaint resolution process from the Canadian Patient Safety Institute
- Canadian Disclosure Guidelines: Being Open with Patients and Families
Major Patient Safety Initiatives:
- Report by the staff of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, (D, CA) citing preventable hospital medical errors as third leading cause of death in U.S.
Patient Safety, Science & Technology Movement
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Helpful Videos
- U.S. Senate Hearings into Hospital Harm
- PBS Segment on Hospital Harm
- Consumers Union on Respect and Hospital Care
- ABC News on Surgery Errors
- Hospital-Acquired Infections
- HAI Video from CDC
- HAI Video from 3M Canada
- The Hidden Dangers of Seroquel from ABC News Australia
Stats and Facts:
- Did You Know? Archive of Adverse Events (AHRQ)
- Error Disclosure and Apology (AHRQ)
- 30 Safe Practices for Better Health Care (AHRQ)
- Ten Things You Can do to be a Safe Patient (CDC)
Huffington Post articles on medical errors
New York Times articles on medical errors
More Patient and Family Driven Initiatives:
- Patient Safety America
- Harmed by Medical Error on Facebook
- The Empowered Patient Coalition
- FairCare Canada on Facebook