Meidcation error results in nursing home resident's death

A Minnesota nursing home has been cited by the State after a resident died following a medication error in  the nursing home.  Two other residents had to be hospitalized due to medication errors that occurred between May 27, 2009 and June 12, 2009.  Overall, the inspection showed that the nursing home had an overall medication error rate of 18%.

Medication errors are a major cause of injury to nursing home residents.  This is especially true since many take several medications, increasing the chances of an adverse drug interaction due to a medication error.

Nurses are responsible for dispensing medications at the nursing and are required to make 5 checks before giving medication: 1) Right patient, 2) Right medication, 3) Right dose, 4) Right time, and 5) Right method.

These checks are in place specifically to prevent medication errors.  When the error rate is 18% (nearly 1 in 5!), there are clearly systemic issues at this facility either in terms of procedures or training.  However, an error rate that high is totally unacceptable and is likely to result in death or harm to other nursing home residents.