Question

For this second class discussion, I want you to identify one vulnerable population that is at a high risk for being a victim of medication errors and answer the following questions:

1. What policies and procedures have been developed by hospitals and healthcare systems to help prevent medication errors for the vulnerable population you have chosen?

2. What steps can be taken by the healthcare team to ensure safe and proper medication administration for your chosen vulnerable population?

3. What forms of communication have you personally witnessed at work, school, TV, movies, etc. to successfully communicate with any kind of vulnerable population?

{Answer each question with a paragraph of at least 4 sentences.

Answer 1

A medication error is defined as the failure in the treatment process due to wrong medication, wrong dose, wrong route that leads harm to the patient.

So Children are the vulnerable population which are at the high risk for the medication errors. This can happen due to the dose differentiation from adult, due to route for medication, not having knowledge regarding drug calculation.

Q1.What policies and procedures have been developed by hospitals and healthcare systems to help prevent medication errors for the vulnerable population you have chosen?

Ans. Following strategies are chosen to prevent medication error:-

1. Ensure to remember the ten rights of medication administration. The rights are:-

· Right drug

· Right patient

· Right dose

· Right route

· Right time & frequency

· Right documentation

· Right history & assessment

· Right to refuse

· Right drug interaction evaluation

· Right education.

2. Triple check of medication:- Before administration of medication check the medication three times to ensure safe administration.

· In the first check read the name of medication & take it from patient drawer. Verify the name of the patient. Compare the label of medication with the ordered drug by physician.

· In the second check, Before or while preparing the medication for administration again check the medication label , patient name.

· In the third check before giving medication to the patient recheck the label to ensure safe administration & to prevent error.

3. After administration of medication properly complete the documentation.

4. You have to enough knowledge regarding the dose calculation to prevent overdose.

Q2. What steps can be taken by the healthcare team to ensure safe and proper medication administration for your chosen vulnerable population?

Ans. 1. The healthcare team should have adequate knowledge regarding the medication, therapeutic purpose, dose, frequency and route of administration, contra-indications, side effects and adverse reactions.

2.The healthcare team also be aware of the correct storage methods & requirements for medications.

3. Always remember the rights of medication administration.

4. Have good knowledge regarding the dose calculation.

Q3. What forms of communication have you personally witnessed at work, school, TV, movies, etc. to successfully communicate with any kind of vulnerable population?

Ans. Encourage the patient to communicate their feelings & tell you if you are wrong at any point. Slow down the communication process for better understanding. Use short sentences while communication so that other can easily understand. Give the time to patient for processing & involve in communication. Use simple language or local language while communication.