Medication Harm – Preventable?

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

Mitigating or reducing the risk of medication harm is a global policy priority. But evidence reflecting preventable medication harm in medical care and the factors that derive this harm remain unknown. In a study published in BMC Medicine, the researchers aimed to quantify the prevalence, severity, and type of preventable medication harm across medical care settings.

The study findings confirm that preventable medication-related harm is a frequent and enduring serious problem, causing severe or potentially life-threatening outcomes in over a quarter of all preventable harm cases. A highly problematic healthcare setting was in geriatric care, specialized care settings, intensive care, or emergency departments. Elderly patients are at greater risk of polypharmacy, and patients in other specialized or emergency medicine settings may be exposed to higher-risk mediation groups.

When was the last time your physicians and pharmacists had a conversation? I mean a real conversation! Polypharmacy continues to plague our residents, often interfering with their quality of life and causing adverse side effects such as dizziness, myalgia, constipation, anorexia, and more! Take a good look at your pharmacy review, bring it to your QAPI committee and determine if you are meeting your goals. Stay the course, stay well, mask up, get vaccinated, and stay tuned!