Question

Pharmaceutical Defence Limited (PDL) has prepared a Guide to Good Dispensing. Describe how dispensing guides (also known as dispensing protocols) help to minimise dispensing errors.

Answer 1

A dispensing error is a discrepancy between a prescription and the medicine taht the pharmacy delivers to the patient or distributes to the ward on the basis of this prescription ,including the dispensing of a medicine with inferior pharmaceutical or informational quality.If dispensing errors are considered from the perscpective that the quality of all pharmacy care activities should be assured by the pharamacist .There are some startegies to prevent the dispensing errors.They are

• Ensure correct entry of the prescription.-Transcription errors accounts for 15 % of dispensing errors.These errors can be reduced by consistenly using reliable methods to verify patient identity while entering the prescription into the computer.The joint commision requires two patient identifiers be used for administering medications in a hospital settings.This strategy helps to prevent medication errors due to sound alike ,look alike names.At this point in the process it is also useful to have information about patient such as age of the patient,allergies,concomitant medications contraindications,therapeutic duplications and the like.
• Confirm that the prescription is correct and complete -Second guessing is illegable preccriptions,acronyms,decimels and call in prescriptions are frequently associated with medication errors.If there is any doubt it is important to call the precriber to clarify any uncertanities or doubts refarding the prescription.
• Beware of look alike sound alike drugs.- Similar drug names account for one third of medication errors.These types errors are attributed to confirmation bias a tendency to interpret informations in a way that confirms one's preconceptions and avoids information and interpretations that contradict prior beleif.
• Be careful with zeros and abbrevations.-Misplaced zeros ,decimel points and faulty units are common causes of medication errors due to misintepretation.A transcription or interpretation error involving a zero or decimal point means that the patient may receive at least 10 times more medication than indicated which can results in serious consequences .These errors can be prevented by using computer alerts or by stocking a single strength of the medication in the pharamacy.
• Organize the workplace.-Organizing workspace ,work environment and workflow has been shown to markedly reduce dispensing errors.Proper lighting adequate counter space,and comfortable tempreaturs and humidity can help facilitate a smooth flow from one task to the next ,thus reducing the chances of dispensing errors.
• Reduse distrction when possible-Multitasking and distarction during work is the leading cause of dispensing errors.Automatic refill requests can reduce dispensing errors.
• Focus on reducing stress and balancing heavy workloads.-Workload increase is often as a contributing factor in dispensing errors.Sufficient staffing and appopriate workload will help reduse errors.
• Take the time to store drugs properly- One way to avoid mix ups among look alike drugs drug is to store them away from each other in the medication storage area.Medication bottles should be properly organized with labels facing forward.
• Thoroughly check all prescriptions- Repeated checking and counterchecks is an important strtegy to minimize dispensing errors.
• Always provide through patient councelling-It is considered good practice to open the container and show the actual medication to the patient during councelling rather tahn deliver it to the patient in a sealed bag.