KEY TERMS
Addiction
A chronic disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences.
Contaminated product error
Occurs when aseptic technique is not followed and the drug becomes non-sterile, causing possible infection.
Extra dose error
An error in which more doses are received by a patient than prescribed.
iPledge program
A specific risk assessment program for isotretinoin to prevent birth defects.
MEDMARX
An internet-based reporting program used to document and track medication errors.
Adverse drug error
An error that results in patient harm related to medication use.
Distraction error
An error that occurs when workflow is interrupted and important information is forgotten or missed.
Fear error
Occurs when a technician avoids clarifying information due to fear of consequences.
MedGuide
FDA-required patient information sheets explaining side effects and risks of certain medications.
MedWatch
FDA voluntary reporting program for serious adverse events involving drugs or medical products.
Alert fatigue
When the technician and/or pharmacist becomes desensitized to safety alerts and begins overriding them routinely.
Documentation error
Occurs when essential information (allergies, prescriptions, requests) is not properly recorded or processed.
Human failure
An error generated by failure that occurs at an individual level.
Medication education error
Occurs when proper medication counseling materials are not provided to the patient.
Mislabeling error
Occurs when medication labeling is incorrect, leading to wrong patient or wrong instructions.
ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction)
A negative consequence to a patient from taking a particular drug, due to the nature of the drug itself.
Drug seeker
A person who attempts to obtain prescription drugs for non-medical use or misuse
Incomplete information
Occurs when full information is unavailable because questions were not asked, answers not recorded, or details withheld.
Medication error
Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm.
Omission error
Occurs when a prescribed dose is not given.
Capture error
An error that occurs when focus shifts and an intended action is replaced by a more familiar action.
Drug tolerance
When the body adapts to a drug and higher doses are required to achieve the same effect.
Incorrect assumption error
Occurs when essential information is assumed but not verified.
Medication noncompliance
Failure to take medication as prescribed; also called nonadherence.
Patient Safety Organization (PSO)
Organizations that collect and analyze data to improve patient safety and healthcare quality.