PHA Medication Error Classification System

* Adopted from NCC MERP Type*

1. Dose Omission – The failure to administer an ordered dose to a patient before the next scheduled dose, if any. This excludes patients who refuse to take a medication or a decision not to administer
2. Improper Dose
   A. Resulting in Over Dosage
   B. Resulting in Under Dosage
   C. Extra Dose
3. Wrong Strength/Concentration
4. Wrong Drug
5. Wrong Dosage Form
6. Wrong Technique (includes inappropriate crushing of tablets)
   
7. Wrong Route of Administration
   

   Route Given	Route Intended
   A. IV	Gastric
   B. Intrathecal	IV
   C. IV	Oral
   D. IV	IM
   E. IM	IV
   F. Epidural
   G. Other

8. Wrong Rate
   A. Too fast
   B. Too slow
9. Wrong Duration
10. Wrong Time – Administration outside a predefined time interval from its scheduled administration time, as defined by each healthcare facility
11. Wrong Patient
12. Monitoring Error (includes contraindicated drugs)
    A. Drug-Drug interaction
    B. Drug-Food/Nutrient interaction
    C. Documented allergy
    D. Drug-Disease interaction
    E. Clinical (e.g., blood glucose, prothrombin, blood pressure, etc.)
13. Deteriorated Drug Error – Dispensing or administering drug which has expired
14. Other – any medication error that does not fall into one of the above
    Step in Process Where Error Initially Occurred:
    1. Prescribing
    2. Transcribing
    3. Dispensing
    4. Administration
    5. Monitoring