Effect of a distraction-free environment on medication errors

摘要

Most of the published data regarding medication errors comes from health systems and hospitals. However, health-system pharmacies serve only a small portion of the total population that receives medications. Errors reported in ambulatory care or community pharmacies are poorly documented in the literature. In these settings, error rates are estimated at 1-24% of all prescriptions dispensed. Up to 4% of reported errors in the ambulatory setting have the potential to result in patient harm.rnThe Institute of Safe Medication Practices has suggested that pharmacy practice should model the airline industry; specifically, the "sterile cockpit" model used by pilots in flight.