By Shaila Pochiraju
Unfortunately, medical errors are a prominent issue in the healthcare community today, though a little known problem, medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death and as of 2018 cause around 250,000 to 440,000 a year (Sipherd). Medical errors include a broad range of medical mishaps but almost 50% of these errors are misprescribing or ordering medications (Dimetman). The misprescribing and ordering can occur from various different fields of the healthcare system such as pharmacists or physicians. Despite the United States spending 17.3% (CMS) of national GDP on healthcare, the United States holds the highest record for reported medical errors (Kermode-Scott). Medical errors can be one of the most preventable issues in the healthcare system if more action is taken. These types of errors not only cost billions of dollars to reverse, they cause mental and physical health issues in patients, promote distrust in the healthcare system, and can often cause addiction and drug abuse.
A more obvious side effect of receiving an incorrect prescription is a physical reaction to an unneeded drug, but these physical side effects can sometimes lead to serious health conditions or even death. Mixing different medications that are not meant to interact can cause unnecessary immune responses and often lead to deathly side effects. An example provided in a study done by Nabhani Zadeh et al. discusses people with mental health disabilities that often take multiple medications at once; this is known as polypharmacy (taking more than 5 medications at once). Taking multiple medications at once can lead to dangerous drug interactions increasing the risk of side effects and incorrect prescriptions (Nabhani Zadeh et al.). For example, a patient goes to the pharmacy to pick up the 6 medications they take for anxiety and PTSD. Every single time she picks up her medications or changes her medication they are at a higher risk than others of medical errors. This is because dispensing locations can make more mistakes when there are multiple prescriptions to give and organize for one person. Taking drugs that are unneeded can also cause major health conditions such as organ failure, change in personality and attitude, rapid heartbeat, and even death (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). Besides, these physical effects can lead to mental health turmoil in patients such as causing more pain in a patient needing to take pain medications or impact a patient's mobility. This type of unrest can cause stress and despair in patients, overall detrimental to their mental wellbeing (Deeley). These mistakes not only cause mental issues within patients but can also hurt the healthcare professionals that made the mistake. Physicians can feel immense guilt, shame, and fear which can lead to mental health disorders like depression (Deeley). Both healthcare professionals and patients are forced to face various struggles because of medical errors.
Consistent errors in the healthcare system will only make healthcare professionals look less reliable and unprepared causing a lack of trust in the system as a whole. When a patient hears of or experiences a medical error first hand it is inevitable to feel fear and anxiety when it comes to trusting their physicians and or dispensing professionals (Deeley). Medical errors cause immense side effects and the fear of possibly experiencing one only grows as more medical errors occur. From a physician or healthcare professional standpoint, reporting these errors can cause detrimental consequences for their career. As a result, professionals often hesitate to report their errors or those of their colleagues (Rodziewicz et al.). This lack of transparency and honesty leads to a vicious cycle of recurrent medical errors that go unnoticed, leading to an unchanged and ineffective system. Once again, the consistent errors only lead patients to doubt and question the accuracy and credibility of healthcare professionals and their institutions.
Substance abuse is a leading public health issue affecting teenagers and adults alike. Coincidentally, medical errors contribute to this issue making it more possible for patients to accidentally get addicted to an incorrect medication. Drugs that are the most misused are opioids such as Oxycontin and those containing hydrocodone, anti-anxiety medications, and stimulants (Mayo Clinic). Opioids like oxycontin and ones containing hydrocodone are controlled substances, meaning they are stored in safes and require extensive pharmacist verification to fill because there is such a high potential for abuse. Prescribing these medications to the wrong person is putting them at a towering risk for abuse and addiction. In a study done in 2004, 1 in 12 patients were misprescribed. The rise in mis-prescriptions was correlated with higher rates of drug abuse (Modi). The study displays the direct effect of misprescribing drugs on the possibility of abuse and addiction. Overall the incorrect administration of medications can lead to lifelong consequences.
The various impacts and effects of misprescription can be mitigated from two different facets: patient and professional. From the professional standpoint, structured and annual medication reviews in the pharmacy are proven to reduce medical errors (Nabhani Zadeh et al.). From the patient side, asking pharmacists and physicians questions about their medications’ need, duration, side effects, limitations, and dosage (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) can increase patient education and safety. Another solution from the patient side is to simply speak up, if there are any suspicious side effects or changes, let your prescriber know or ask a pharmacist (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). In summation, small revisions and practices can significantly reduce the frequency of medical errors.
Works Cited
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