Only six adverse error reports regarding medication errors have been submitted to the Oregon Patient Safety Commission's public reporting system in the last three years, according to a news report by The Oregonian.
By comparison, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy receives approximately 600 complaints every year on medication errors, and some healthcare experts believe this is just a fraction of the real number of medication errors occurring on a yearly basis. The Oregon Patient Safety Commission set up the public reporting system three years ago to collect data on how to improve medication safety. According to the news report, nursing homes and hospitals has utilized the public reporting system, though many pharmacists and retail chains have not.
Part of the reason for this is due to fear of reprisal, though the Oregon Patient Safety Commission says the public reporting system is confidential. Many pharmacies also believe their internal patient safety programs and Oregon Board of Pharmacy oversight are sufficient.
Bethany Higgins, administrator of the Oregon Patient Safety Commission, hopes to make the reporting system more robust by using "intuitive online reporting" rather than longer fax questionnaires.
Read the news report about Oregon Patient Safety Commission's reporting system.
Related Articles on Medication Safety:
Proper Format for Drug Formulary: Q&A With Sheldon Sones of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates
Patient Safety Tool: AMA's Medication Safety Checklist
Healthcare Experts Offer "Principles of Conservative Prescribing"
By comparison, the Oregon Board of Pharmacy receives approximately 600 complaints every year on medication errors, and some healthcare experts believe this is just a fraction of the real number of medication errors occurring on a yearly basis. The Oregon Patient Safety Commission set up the public reporting system three years ago to collect data on how to improve medication safety. According to the news report, nursing homes and hospitals has utilized the public reporting system, though many pharmacists and retail chains have not.
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Part of the reason for this is due to fear of reprisal, though the Oregon Patient Safety Commission says the public reporting system is confidential. Many pharmacies also believe their internal patient safety programs and Oregon Board of Pharmacy oversight are sufficient.
Bethany Higgins, administrator of the Oregon Patient Safety Commission, hopes to make the reporting system more robust by using "intuitive online reporting" rather than longer fax questionnaires.
Read the news report about Oregon Patient Safety Commission's reporting system.
Related Articles on Medication Safety:
Proper Format for Drug Formulary: Q&A With Sheldon Sones of Sheldon S. Sones and Associates
Patient Safety Tool: AMA's Medication Safety Checklist
Healthcare Experts Offer "Principles of Conservative Prescribing"
