Medication errors in children

Abstract

Medication errors commonly involve children, with dosing errors being the most common. Medication errors are more frequent among the most sick patients who have urgent and complex medical conditions. Physicians who are less experienced, tired, depressed, and burnt out make more errors. The systems approach views every medical error as a system failure. The focus is on how to change the system in order to prevent errors. Adopting the systems approach will enhance patients' safety. Strategies that have been found to be effective in reducing medication errors include the use of computerized physician order entry systems, pre-printed order forms, color-coded systems, and involving pharmacists in clinical care.