STUDY LOOKS AT PRESCRIPTION ERRORS

A nationwide study of 50 pharmacies sparks concern regarding prescription errors. Of the errors detected, 6.5% were judged to be clinically significant, representing a total 0.1% of the prescriptions evaluated.

Clinically important errors were defined as “those having the potential to lead to patient harm or discomfort.”

According to the report, the typical pharmacist prepares about 13,000 prescriptions annually, or about 60 per day.

Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association – March/April 2003;191. http://www.aphanet.org/