PHA Medication Error (definition)

What is a Medication Error?
"A medication error is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate
medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health
care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional
practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing;
order communication; product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature; compounding;
dispensing; distribution; administration; education; monitoring; and use."

This definition spans the entire scope of medication use. With this definition, an
error does not have to reach a patient to be reportable: "near misses" are
opportunities for improvement.

For more information on the Safe Medication Use Sub Committee please email us at: pha@gha.org