Key Terms
Addiction
Compulsive, uncontrollable use of a drug for reasons other than prescribed.
Contaminated product error
Occurs when sterile compounding procedures are not followed, causing contamination and possible infection.
Extra dose error
When a patient receives more doses than were prescribed
iPLEDGE program
A required risk management program for isotretinoin to prevent birth defects.
MEDMARX
An online reporting system used by healthcare facilities to track medication errors and adverse events
Adverse drug error
An error that occurs when a prescribed drug causes an allergy or harmful interaction that was missed
Distraction error
An error caused by interruptions during a task, leading to missed information or safety steps
Fear error
An error that occurs when a technician is afraid to question or clarify a prescription.
MedGuide
FDA-provided printed information explaining side effects and risks of certain medications.
MedWatch
An FDA program that allows reporting of serious adverse drug events.
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)
A harmful or negative effect caused by a drug due to its normal properties, especially in vulnerable patients.
Documentation error
Failure to properly record important information such as allergies, prescriptions, or billing details.
Human failure
An error caused by an individual’s mistake
Medication education error
When proper counseling or educational materials are not given to the patient.
Mislabeling error
When incorrect information appears on a medication label
Alert fatigue
When pharmacy staff become desensitized to safety alerts and start ignoring or overriding warnings.
Drug seeker
A patient who is dependent on drugs and seeks prescriptions from multiple doctors or pharmacies.
Incomplete information error
When important patient information is missing or not properly recorded.
Medication error
Any preventable mistake that may cause inappropriate medication use or harm.
Omission error
When a prescribed dose is not given
Capture error
An error that happens when focus shifts to another task and the mistake goes unnoticed.
Drug tolerance
When the body adapts to a drug, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.
Incorrect assumption error
When staff assume information instead of verifying it.
Medication noncompliance
When a patient does not take medication as prescribed (nonadherence).
Patient Safety Organization (PSO)
A group that collects and analyzes healthcare error data to improve safety.