In a recent pharmacy mistake lawsuit, filed last month, Charles Stevens, 70, was given a prescription for Lomotil, an anti-diarrhea medicine that he dropped off to be filled at his local CVS Pharmacy in Santa Barbara, CA in 2009. When Stevens picked up his prescription, he was allegedly mistakenly given a prescription for Warfarin Sodium, a medication prescribed for blood-thinning. Stevens was reportedly already taking blood-thinning medication, and after taking the prescription misfill, he suffered major bleeding, and was immediately taken by his wife to the hospital.
Stevens and his wife are reportedly suing CVS for pharmacy negligence, and pharmacy malpractice, claiming that the pharmacy failed to read the prescription correctly, misfilled his medication bottle with incorrect drugs, and failed to properly analyze Stevens’ medication profile, which could have prevented the medication mistake.
CVS reportedly has a patient profile mechanism that is used to protect patients from such dangerous drug errors as well as dangerous drug combinations, or repeat or double-diagnoses. According to Stevens' attorney, CVS reportedly admitted to the pharmacy mistake and Stevens’ lawyers are asking for over $200,000 in damages.
]]> Our pharmacy misfill attorneys always stress the importance of getting to know your pharmacists, as reported in a recent blog—and how discussing your medication lists and prescriptions can help prevent pharmacy misfills, mistakes, personal injury, or even death.Man Files Lawsuit Against CVS, The Santa Barbara Independent, July 28, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, (NCCMERP)
]]>The FDA reportedly claimed that medication errors often happen as a result of names that look alike or sound alike, encoded numerals, failure to recognize active ingredients, dangerous medical abbreviations, and name length.
In a FDA workshop last month, Carol Holquist, RPh and director of FDA’s Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis reportedly claimed that guidance on these medication mistake issues is an important first step to developing a consensus to form new FDA regulations, which can take around 10-15 years.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)’s director of Medication Use Quality Improvement, Bona Benjamin, also reportedly told the workshop group that the ASHP’s 2007 recommendations for the FDA are still current—that human factoring should be applied scientifically to drug packaging and labeling, and barcode verification should be encouraged, as nearly 20% of hospitals are using barcode medication verification.
]]> The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention Health Literacy Panel also released label recommendations for dispensed prescription packaging in May, in an effort to reduce patient error, or patient injury. The panel called for organizing labels and presenting them to patients in a clear, concise, simple way that is standardized, to improve legibility, and use specific text to accurately describe drug dosages and directions, and to provide labeling in the patient’s preferred language.Planned FDA Guidance on Drug Labeling Seeks to Help Reduce Medication Errors, Modern Medicine.com, July 20, 2010
USP Advisory Panel Recommends Standardizing Prescription Container Labeling to Improve Patient Understanding of Medication Instructions, PR Newswire/U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, May 10, 2010
Related Web Resources:
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
]]>According to Jessica Soliz, a Walgreens pharmacist made a major pharmacy error when labeling her prescription for seizure medication. After Soliz picked up her prescription drugs from the pharmacy and began taking them, she reportedly became very ill. The prescription error wasn’t discovered until a nurse looked at the label, and realized that prescription was mislabeled to read that each pill contained 25 milligrams of Lamictal, when in fact each pill in the bottle contained 100 milligrams or the drug.
According to the FDA, the most common medication errors are due to wrong doses, incorrect drugs, or the incorrect administration of drugs. The Institute of Medicine reports that there are around 1.5 million medication error injuries that happen every year, with at least 7,000 deaths.
In Soliz’s case, Walgreens responded that they were sorry that this pharmacy error occurred. They stated that they take pharmacy safety seriously, and are constantly working to improve the quality, accuracy and service of all pharmacy orders, to prevent pharmacy error injury or wrongful death.
]]> In the Baltimore, Maryland our attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen represent victims of pharmacy error, to make sure they receive the personal injury compensation they deserve. If you have been injured due to a pharmacy error, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.Woman Says Pharmacy Mistake Nearly Killed Her, Channel 4/WOAI.com, July 7, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
Institute of Medicine, (IOM)
]]>In similar epinephrine news, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), announced a National Alert Network (NAN) message this month, to warn healthcare providers about dangerous medication mistakes that could be caused by a shortage of pre-filled epinephrine syringes.
The NAN warning states that emergency syringes of epinephrine in 1mg/10mL (0.1 mg/ml) are currently on backorder from the Hospira Inc., the only manufacturer of the product after the pharmaceutical company Amphastar stopped making its emergency syringes of the drug in 2009.
According to ASHP’s director of medication use, quality and improvement, Bona Benjamin, Epinephrine is a life saving drug used in ambulances, hospitals and any other emergency settings when a patient’s heart has stopped.
Benjamin claimed that the shortage of epinephrine does not effect quantities of the EpiPen, the epinephrine injection products that are self administered in .3 mg and .15 mg doses, to remedy severe emergency reactions to food, medication, insect bites, and other reactions of an allergic nature.
]]> The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) reports that injectable epinephrine is still available as 1mg/mL in 1-mL vials and as 1 mg/mL in 30-mL vials, and also as emergency drug syringes with intracardiac needles, but both organizations caution that those drug products might not be suitable or safe replacement alternatives for emergency vehicles, code carts, or other needs or emergencies. NAN warns health care professionals to be aware of the potential for medication errors that could happen as a result of the shortage—in terms of compatibility of products, drug strengths, drug substitution, diluting the drug, and miscalculations that could lead to patient injury, overdose, or even wrongful death.In Maryland and the Washington D.C.-area, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC today.
Shortage of Prefilled Epinephrine Syringes Raises Dosing Error Risk, The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), July 2, 2010
EPINEPHrine pre-filled Syringe Shortage, National Alert Network Message from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists/Institute for Safe Medication Practices, June 16, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
]]>After suffering an allergic reaction from eating seafood that included facial swelling and thickening of the tongue, Timothy Harvey, 51, went to the Mayo Regional Hospital emergency room for treatment. Harvey was reportedly given 0.3 milligrams of epinephrine, and reportedly showed good signs of improvement.
While Harvey was being observed by the hospital staff, he had another allergic attack, with some of the earlier symptoms. The staff reportedly gave him another dose of epinephrine, but accidentally administered an incorrect dosage of the drug, causing a medication error that was ten times the normal dose, 3 milligrams instead of 0.3 milligrams.
According to the FDA, Epinephrine is a high alert medication that could cause significant harm or patient injury when used in error. When Harvey started to experience chest pain and shortness of breath, the medical team discovered the mistake, and immediately contacted the poison control center to attempt to reverse the effects of the drug, but with no success. The Epinephrine overdose ultimately killed Harvey, despite the hospital staff’s many attempts to save his life.
]]> The hospital took full responsibility for the human error and are reportedly taking part in the investigation to find out how the error could have occurred. They claimed that they had systems in place that should have prevented this medication mistake from happening, but those systems failed them in this circumstance. The hospital claims to have already put changes into place by replacing the large vials of epinephrine in the emergency rooms with EpiPens that are prefilled—to treat emergency allergic reactions with the correct dosage.At Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC, our attorneys are committed to making sure that medication error victims and their loved ones receive the personal injury compensation they deserve. If you or someone you love has been injured or died due to a hospital or pharmacy error in Washington D.C. or Maryland, contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
Man Dies of Overdose at Hospital, Mainville.com, June 11, 2010
Maine Hospital 'Commended' for Admitting Mistake in Patient's Death, Fierce Healthcare.com, June 15, 2010
Related Web Resources:
]]>The study found that fatal medication errors in hospitals are at their highest in July, especially in teaching hospitals. July is reportedly the month when recent medical students graduates report to residencies in teaching hospitals and are given new responsibilities for patient care.
In their research, Dr. David Phillips and Gwendolyn Barker studied the relationship between medication error and inexperience in July, when thousands of medical residents begin their residencies. The research focused on the changes in the total number of medication mistakes; which includes medicine given and taken in error, accidental drug overdose, accidental medication errors in medical and surgical procedures, and drugs taken accidentally.
The study inspected 244,388 death certificates across the country, focusing on fatal medication errors that were recorded as the primary cause of death between 1979 and 2006—comparing the July death numbers with the number of events that are expected in any month in any year.
]]> The authors of the study found that medication errors that cause deaths were highest in July inside medical institutions—visible only in counties that have teaching hospitals for residencies. The number of deaths caused by medication mistakes in these counties were 10% above the expected level. There was reportedly no other similarity found for other causes of death or for fatalities outside the hospitals.Phillips and Baker found that their results bring to light several issues for the medical community. They claim in their report that the new resident responsibilities need to be re-evaluated, new medical residents need to have increased supervision, and there needs to be increased education concerning medication safety for patients. The researchers found that by making these changes, wrongful deaths and non-fatal medication errors might be reduced, along with major costs that are associated with these kinds of errors.
Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC represent victims of medication error victims in Maryland or the Washington, D.C. area. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.
Study Suggests Inexperienced Medical Staff Make Fatal Medication Errors, Society of General Internal Medicine Press Release, June 7, 2010
The ‘July Effect’: Worst Month for Fatal Hospital Errors, Study Finds, ABC News, June 3, 2010
Study: Fatal Medication Mistakes Surge in July, Time, June 2, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Society of General Internal Medicine, SGIM
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
]]>Sadly, in another children's medication mistake incident that our attorneys have been following, a 19-month child in Omaha recently died after being given medication in a hospital that was improperly administered into her body.
The child, Alicia Coleman, was born twelve weeks premature, and battled a gastrointestinal disorder, but had been a fighter from the start according to her mother, Dominique Coleman, and was reportedly getting stronger with improved health. Coleman claimed that doctors had even recently claimed that her daughter’s medications would soon be cut in half, as the child was just starting to walk and talk.
Coleman claims that after dropping her daughter off at Children’s Home Healthcare’s World, where Alicia was due to receive medication, a nurse mistakenly made a medication error while giving the child a drug that was supposed to slow the absorption of food in her system. Instead of putting the drug into Alicia’s feeding tube, the drug was reportedly put into a tube that was the central line to the child’s heart, causing a seizure and cardiac arrest.
]]> The Children’s health care facility and the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center both reportedly attempted to resuscitate the child for more than an hour, with doctors even calling the drug’s manufacturer and poison control. The hospital said in a statement that they believe that human error led to the accidental death of Alicia, and they wish their deepest condolences to the family.Dominique reportedly said that although she believes that her daughter’s death was not intentional, she can’t move on until she knows that responsibility has been taken, and changes are put into place to make sure that this kind of medication error doesn’t happen again to other children and families.
If you or someone you love has been a victim of a medication mistake in the Washington D.C. area or in the state of Maryland, call our Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC at 1-800-654-1949 to schedule your free consultation.
Medication Mistake Kills Toddler at Hospital-Run Care Facility, KPTM.com, June 1, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
]]>Eileen Funston was reportedly admitted to UPMC Passavant Hospital, in Pittsburg, PA in October of last year, where her medication history was reportedly recorded incorrectly by the doctor.
Funston’s dosage of methotrexate, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, was reportedly recorded as 12.5 milligrams per day, which should have been 12.5 milligrams per week. The medication error in her medical records was reportedly not detected, and was then repeated in her records when she was moved to another care center.
Funston’s family claims that the medication mistake lead to an overdose of methotrexate, causing Funston to suffer internal bleeding, that cause her to aspirate blood. She was reportedly moved back to UPMC Passavant hospital, where she died.
]]> The lawsuit accuses UPMC Passavant Hospital, St. John Specialty Care and three doctors involved in her care, for medication error that lead to Funston’s wrongful death.According a study performed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2007, over 1.7 million adverse drug events occur in the U.S. every year that are preventable—400,000 events in hospitals, with another 800,000 events occurring in long-term care settings, and around 530,000 events occurring with Medicare recipients in outpatient clinics. The study found that medication errors are common at every stage, from prescription to drug administration, as well as monitoring the patient’s response—that could lead to patient injury or wrongful death.
Our medication mistake attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC are committed to making sure that medication error victims and their loved ones receive the personal injury compensation they deserve. If someone you love has been injured or experienced a wrongful death due to a pharmacy error in the Washington D.C. area or in the state of Maryland, contact us at 1-800-654-1949 to schedule your free consultation.
Lawsuit Claims Dosage Error at UPMC Passavant Led to Death, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 10, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
Institute of Medicine, (IOM)
According to the lawsuit, when Joseph Nini picked up his prescription at the Wal-Mart Pharmacy on March 25, 2008, he was given another patient’s medication by the pharmacist on duty, Cindy Lee Carranza.
Nini, a 77-year old Jasper County resident, claims that after taking the incorrect medication, he had to go to the hospital, as the medication made him ill and caused him to endure personal injuries as well physical pain, mental anguish, and physical impairment.
Wal-mart and Carranza are being accused of being responsible for causing his injuries, as Nini claims that they negligently failed to dispense the proper medication, failed to comply with the pharmacy policies put into place to prevent pharmacy misfills and the accidental dispensing of medication to the wrong patient, and failed to contact him or properly communicate with him when the pharmacy discovered that he had been given the wrong medication.
]]> According to the Institute of Medicine, every year, there are least 1.5 million personal injuries from medication mistakes with nearly 7,000 deaths. A study lead by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research found that the most common types of medication errors experienced, were due to wrong doses, incorrect drugs, or the incorrect administration of drugs.At Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC, our attorneys are experienced in representing pharmacy error victims in the Washington D.C. area and in the state of Maryland. Contact us today at 1-800-654-1949 for a free consultation.
Man Alleges Wal-Mart Pharmacy Dispensed Wrong Medication, The South-East Texas Record, May 6, 2010
Retrospective Analysis of Mortalities Associated with Medication Errors, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, October 2001
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
Institute of Medicine, (IOM)
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, (NCCMERP)
]]>In the high profile incident, Quaid’s newborn twins were given an overdose of the medication Heparin, a blood thinner, due to an alleged medication mix-up of Baxter drugs that that have similar looking labels with hard-to-read fine print. The twins were incorrectly given 10,000 units of the drug Heparin, instead of the 10 units of Hep-Lock that was orginally prescribed to treat a staph infection.
After the dismissal of a similar lawsuit filed against Baxter in Illinois, Quaid is going after Baxter again, filing a second lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. Quaid claims that the healthcare corporation acted negligently, and did not recall the 10,000 Heparin vials or warn hospitals and medical providers of the possibility for drug error after similar medication mistakes had occurred, resulting in the injury and wrongful deaths of infants.
The complaint claims that Baxter was obliged to alert hospitals and healthcare providers about the previous drug errors, and correct the labels to prevent the medication errors from happening in the future.
]]> The Quaids originally sued the Los Angeles hospital where the accident occurred, and agreed to settle for $750,000—although the hospital did not claim any wrongdoing.Baxter reportedly claimed in a statement that according to investigations by the California health officials, the medication error happened as a result of someone not reading the label correctly on the Heparin vials.
Quaid’s twins were born in November of 2007, and spent ten days in intensive care, after the accidental overdose of the Baxter medication. Quaid claims in the complaint that his twins suffered internal injuries and shock from the accidental drug overdose, and appear to have recovered—however the complications of the overdose and the long-term injuries may not be known for years, and could be permanent in nature.
Quaid is seeking medical expenses and punitive damages, and has asked Baxter to create a fund to cover the possible medical expenses of the twins for the future.
Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC represent medication error victims in Maryland and the Washington, D.C. area. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.
Quaid Sues Healthcare Company, Toronto Sun, May 24, 2010
Dennis Quaid Files Lawsuit Over Drug Mix-Up, The Injury Board National News Desk, May 26, 2010
Dennis Quaid Sues Again Over Twins Drug Overdose, Reuters, May 25, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Baxter Healthcare Professionals
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
This week, Franck’s Pharmacy voluntarily suspended all veterinary compounding in the lab, after reportedly being threatened with an injunction by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last month, the FDA filed a complaint that Franck’s was going around the law by producing and selling misbranded and adulterated drugs and pharmacy compounds that were too similar to drugs that are FDA-approved.
According to the FDA, compounded drugs are not reviewed by the FDA for effectiveness and safety. Drug compounding has been criticized for lack of oversight—especially when both human and animal patients could be exposed to unapproved medication, that could result personal injury or even in this case death. In an FDA Compliance Policy Guide from 2003, the agency stated concerns about the risks posed by pharmacists and veterinarians who manufacture, distribute, and mass-markets animal drugs that are unapproved.
The FDA has reportedly had a strong interest in this case, as the deaths of these horses were caused by pharmacy error—from the same pharmacy that produces drugs for humans.
]]> In Maryland and the Washington D.C.-area, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC today.Franck’s Pharmacy Voluntarily Stops Veterinary Compounding to Address FDA Concerns, Veterinary News, May 19, 2010
Florida Pharmacy Accused of Illegal Compounding, May 19, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Medication Error Reports
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, (NCCMERP)
]]>In a study that our attorneys discussed, published in the May issue of Pediatrics, researchers found that pharmacies using labels that have been translated into Spanish with a computer program often provide inaccurate or confusing drug instructions filled with medication errors—often delivered in a mix of English and Spanish or “Spanglish.” The study looked at 76 labels for prescriptions generated by 13 different pharmacy translation computer programs, and there was a reported error rate of 50 percent.
Dr. Alejandro Clavier, a doctor in Chicago told the Chicago Tribune that he experiences translation issues with his patients in his practice every day. In one example, a patient who suffers from anemia was not improving after taking the iron supplements that Clavier prescribed. Clavier found that the patient had only been taking one drop of the iron supplement—not the stronger dosage Clavier prescribed. The patient had reportedly received instructions from the pharmacy that were confusing and hard to understand.
According to a study performed by Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, many pharmacies in four states with a large and growing Latino population are unable to even provide translations for prescriptions. The 2009 study found that nearly 35 percent of the pharmacies surveyed did not even offer translations services, and 22 percent offered pharmacy translations that were limited.
]]> Stacy Cooper Bailey, a clinical research associate at Feinberg School of Medicine, who was the lead researcher for the study, found that in some cases pharmacy staff with limited translation services would employ staff members to translate who had high-school levels of Spanish. One employee of a pharmacy claimed that when faced with a prescription translation, he would ask the Mexican restaurant down the street for help.Carmen Velasquez, the executive director of the Alivio Medical Center in Chicago, claims that choosing computer programs to translate important medical information for a patient is a poor and inappropriate substitute for human heath care. The Alivio Medical Center provides 21,000 patients, who speak mostly Spanish, with English and Spanish services. Velasquez claims that in health care, if you have the responsibility of an individual’s life, you should know what you are saying and doing.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a medication mistake or pharmacy misfill in Maryland or the Washington, D.C. area, contact the attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC for a free consultation. Call us today at 1-800-654-1949.
Translated Prescriptions Often Wrong, Chicago Tribune, May 12, 2010
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: (FDA)
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, (NCCMERP)
]]>The FDA announced this week that the administration has pushed J&J to begin another recall of certain children’s OTC liquid medicines—because of reported manufacturing deficiencies and violations found by federal health regulators during a routine inspection at a drug facility in Washington Pa—that could affect the quality, purity and potency of the products.
According to the FDA and the J&J unit, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, consumers should stop using all unexpired lots of both children’s and infant’s Tylenol, Zyrtec, Benedryl, and Motrin, because some the drugs reportedly may contain a larger concentration of the active drug than specified on the package. The recall also includes products that may contain inactive ingredients, other potentially solidified product ingredients, or other manufacturing residues that could include particles like tiny metal specks—that may not meet the testing requirements.
McNeil stated although there is only a remote possibility for serious medical problems, consumers should stop using the drugs, to avoid personal injury or illness in children.
]]> McNeil has posted a full list of the recalled products on its website and is currently investigating the plant where the products were created to make sure that there are no other problems, that could cause medication error or consumer injury with the OTC drugs. This is the second major recall this year for J&J and McNeil.Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC represent victims of medication mistakes the Washington, D.C. area. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation.
Children’s Tylenol and Other Drugs Recalled, The New York Times, May 1, 2010
McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain OTC Infants’ and Children’s Products, PR Newswire, April 30, 2010
Tylenol Recall: FDA Slams Company, CNN Money, January 15, 2010
Related Web Resources:
]]>The Wall Street Journal documented an example of possible prescription error with 59-year old Debbie Kenny, who was prescribed a new hypertension medication by her doctor that had just become available at the end of last year. Unknown to both Kenny and her doctor, the medication had the potential to interfere with her asthma—a dangerous side effect. Kenny consequently had trouble breathing after coming down with a cold, still not understanding the side effects of the medication.
After Kinney’s doctor started to e-prescribe the following month, the new electronic system indicated very clearly that Kinney should not be taking that particular hypertension drug, because of her asthma, and the drug’s side effects. She was promptly switched to another medication for hypertension that was compatible with her asthma. Kinney said that she feels more comfortable now with the new electronic system. If her doctor prescribes a new drug, she can ask for a clear computerized diagram of the side effects or the drug interactions before taking the medication—to avoid any personal injury.
As of last year, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was helping to promote the switch to electronic prescribing by enticing doctors and paying them a bonus for e-prescribing. As of the beginning of 2012, a stronger encouragement will appear, as CMS will begin penalizing doctors who haven’t embraced the electronic system to issue patient’s prescriptions.
]]> E-prescribing is also expected to encourage the widespread use of electronic records, to store full medical histories, labs, and let doctors send reminders and alerts to patients. As we reported in a recent blog, President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus included over $19 billion for health information technology, to help doctors and hospitals pay for electronic medical records systems and help improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health and medical care.In Maryland or the Washington, D.C. area, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen, LLC today.
More Doctors Are Prescribing Medicines Online, The Wall Street Journal, April 20, 1010
Related Web Resources:
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
Institute of Medicine, (IOM)
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, (NCCMERP)
]]>E-prescribing immediately sends the prescriptions to the pharmacy in a digital format through a secured Internet network, from a handheld device or from their computers. The doctor simply selects the drug from a computerized list, with other symbols indicating the best drug option, different dosages, and either generic or name-brand medicine, instead of hand-writing the prescription, which can lead to medication error. Some e-prescribing programs give symbols in the form of colored or smiling faces, delineating between cheapest, preferred, or less desirable drug options.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the number of e-prescriptions almost tripled last year, from 68 million in the previous year, to 191 million in 2009. Surescripts, LLC, the company that handles the majority of the electronic communications in e-prescribing, reports that this represents 12% of the 1.63 billion original prescriptions, which excludes refills. The first three months of this year showed that one out of every five prescriptions is being filed electronically—a number that is rapidly growing, as nearly 25% of doctors based in offices already have the technology to e-prescribe.
In a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in February of this year, e-prescribing was found to reduce common hand-written prescriptions errors significantly, including pharmacy misfills containing the wrong dosage, or incorrect usage instructions that could lead to patient injury or even wrongful death.
]]> The study, “Electronic Prescribing Improves Medication Safety In Community-Based Office Practices, showed that when practices started using e-prescribing for a year, they reduced their error rate from 42.5% to 6.6% on average. Medical practices with doctors who continued to hand write prescriptions on paper, rose from a 38% error rate to 39%.E-prescribing can also contribute to prescription errors, for instance, if a doctor mistakenly presses the wrong key, or chooses the wrong form of the drug, like a pill form instead of liquid form for children. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices focuses on analyzing and reducing medication errors, and although they support electronic prescribing, they recommend that patients always ask for verbal clarification and guidance from their doctors, as well as printed out instructions before taking the medication, to avoid medication mistakes or personal injury.
At Lebowitz and Mzhen LLC, our attorneys strive to make sure that pharmacy misfill victims and their loved ones receive the personal injury compensation they deserve. Call us today at 1-800-654-1949.
More Doctors Are Prescribing Medicines Online, The Wall Street Journal, April 20, 1010
Related Web Resources:
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, (ISMP)
Institute of Medicine, (IOM)
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, (NCCMERP)