Steps to prevent medication mistakes

Medication mistakes happen every day;—at the doctor’s office, hospital, even at home. Some mistakes are more serious than others, but all medication mistakes can be prevented.  

Salem Hospital’s director of pharmaceutical services, Richard Proksch, R.Ph., M.S., suggests these tips to help keep medication mistakes from happening to you and your loved ones.

At the doctor’s office and pharmacy
	Share with your doctor a list of your current medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. You’ll find a handy form at  www.salemhospital.org/rx
	Remind your doctor about allergies you have, or negative reactions you have had to other medicines.
	Ask your doctor if it is safe to take a new prescription with any other medicines, vitamins, herbs, or supplements you are taking.
	Understand that more medications may not always be better. Ask your doctor how a new medication will help.
	Make sure you can read the handwriting on prescriptions. If you can’t read it, the pharmacist may not be able to, either.
	Read the label on your prescription medicine. Make sure it has your name on it and the correct medicine name.
	If you’re not sure whether you are supposed to chew your medicine whole or swallow it, ask your pharmacist.
	Ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe to drink alcohol with your medicine.
	Take your medicine as it is prescribed and do not stop taking it without approval from your doctor.
	Whenever you are in doubt about a medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist about it.

At the hospital and clinic
	Share with your doctor a list of your current medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
	Make sure the doctor or nurse checks your wristband and asks your name before giving you medicine.
	Ask your doctor or nurse how a new medicine will help. Ask for written information about it, including its brand and generic names.
	Ask your doctor or nurse about the possible side effects of your medications.
	Don’t be afraid to tell the nurse or doctor if you think you are about to get the wrong medicine.
	Know what time you normally get a medicine. If you don’t get it then, tell your nurse or doctor.
	Tell your nurse or doctor if you don’t feel well after receiving a medicine. If you think you are having a reaction or experiencing side effects, ask for help immediately.
	If you’re not feeling well enough to ask questions about your medications, ask a relative or friend to help make sure you get the right medications.
	If you receive intravenous (IV) fluids, read the contents of the bags of IV fluids. If you’re not well enough to do this, ask a relative or friend to do it.
	If you are given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to run out. Tell the nurse if it seems to be dripping too fast or too slow.
	Ask for a copy of your medication administration record. This lists all of the drugs you should be taking. Check it for accuracy. If you’re not well enough to do this, ask a friend or relative to help.
	Before you leave the hospital or clinic, make sure you understand all of the instructions for the medicines you will need to keep taking, and ask any questions you may have.