- Section 5
“Hospital pharmacists should ensure the reporting of adverse drug reactions and medication errors to regional or national pharmacovigilance programmes or patient safety programmes.”
What does it mean for patients? Medication errors can occur due to failures of the procedures. Scientific literature suggests one way to decrease errors is by implementing evidence-based systems or technology systems (e.g. scan- technology or unit dose distribution).
What does it mean for healthcare professionals? Evidence-based systems or technology systems (e.g. scan-technology, electronic prescribing or unit dose distribution) are useful instruments to improve prescription practices and avoid adverse events.Evidence-based systems or technology systems are also useful instruments to improve preparation and administration practices and avoid medication errors.
What does it mean for Hospital Pharmacists? Hospital pharmacists should define the appropriate system to implement in their hospitals (such as automated prescription-filling, unit dose distribution, bar coding, or others) to improve patient safety. Hospital pharmacists should make sure that all conditions are fulfilled prior to implementation. Hospital pharmacists should establish the safety rules regarding processes/technology used and monitor the new process and assess the impact on medication errors