A comparison of medication errors between two storage sites

Abstract

This prospective single-blinded study aimed to compare the types of medication errors and medication error rates of two medication delivery systems. The setting was a 30 bed surgical ward that was divided into two identical areas. In one area medications were stored and issued in a ward bay workstation immediately outside the patients' rooms. The alternate area used a medication trolley at the patients' bedside. Three hundred and forty opportunities for errors were observed using five nurse educators. Twenty administration errors (5.8% error rate) and two dispensing errors (0.6% error rate) were detected. A statistically significant difference was found between the two systems, where four errors occurred from the medication trolley (2.6% error rate), and fifteen errors occurred from the ward bay (9.2% error rate). These results suggest that medications were less likely to be omitted and more likely to be given on time when they were issued at the patient's bedside using the medication trolley.

Bedside medication lockers: the hidden danger upon discharge

“…With respect to medication safety, previous studies in Australia and Northern Ireland have found a statistically significant difference in error rates favouring bedside medication lockers compared to standard centralised medication trolley systems . Medications were less likely to be omitted and were more likely to be given on time when they were issued and administered at the patients' bedside .…”

“…Bedside medication lockers are a widely used medication management storage solution chosen by many hospitals, regardless of whether they are for new ward areas or for refurbishment of old areas. This shift in how medications are stored is generally aimed at improving medication administration efficiency by nursing staff, increasing patient contact and improving medication safety …”

“…This shift in how medications are stored is generally aimed at improving medication administration efficiency by nursing staff, increasing patient contact 1 and improving medication safety. [1][2][3] With respect to medication safety, previous studies in Australia and Northern Ireland have found a statistically significant difference in error rates favouring bedside medication lockers compared to standard centralised medication trolley systems. [2][3][4] Medications were less likely to be omitted and were more likely to be given on time when they were issued and administered at the patients' bedside.…”

“…[1][2][3] With respect to medication safety, previous studies in Australia and Northern Ireland have found a statistically significant difference in error rates favouring bedside medication lockers compared to standard centralised medication trolley systems. [2][3][4] Medications were less likely to be omitted and were more likely to be given on time when they were issued and administered at the patients' bedside. 3 Efficiency with respect to medication administration was also significantly improved through the use of bedside medication lockers compared to a standard centralised medication trolley system.…”

“…[2][3][4] Medications were less likely to be omitted and were more likely to be given on time when they were issued and administered at the patients' bedside. 3 Efficiency with respect to medication administration was also significantly improved through the use of bedside medication lockers compared to a standard centralised medication trolley system. 4 Despite these benefits, results from a previous Australian audit showed that the time taken for a pharmacy assistant to supply inpatient medicines to the ward increased when bedside medication lockers were utilised, compared to a standard centralised medication trolley system.…”