According to a study published online in Health Services Research, an estimated 4.5 million adult patients visit doctor offices and emergency rooms every year due to adverse drug events. About 400,000 of these 4.5 million patients are subsequently hospitalized.
Generally, senior citizens and patients taking more than six medications are most likely to too see their doctor about a problem with a drug they were prescribed. Reviewing drug lists with patients and making sure they understand how to take medicine properly are two keys to preventing problems.
Experts say physicians can help to lessen the chances that medications will harm their patients by taking a few extra steps in office with the patient.
- Counsel patients on the name, dose, indication and potential side effects when prescribing new medications.
- For each new medicine, use the "teach-back" method, asking patients to repeat what they understand about the drug, how much to take and when, why they are taking it, and what its potential side effects are
- Keep an accurate medication list for each patient, and ask patients about medications prescribed by other physicians, as well as any over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements they take
- Reconcile medications after a hospital stay.
- Routinely assess patients for medication side effects.
- Submit adverse events to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices' Medication Errors Reporting Program. Also report serious problems to the Food and Drug Administration's MedWatch program.
Messa & Associates has been involved in numerous cases where medical errors result in illness and catastrophic injury. Our attorneys have obtained fair verdicts and settlements for our clients in dozens of these cases getting clients the compensation they deserve for injury, trauma, loss, suffering and any ongoing needs that may result. If you or a loved one has suffered illness or injury due to preventable medical error, please contact us at 1-877-MessaLaw.
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