Perhaps the most regrettable aspect of medication errors, however, is that they usually are preventable. Many nurses are unaware of a small, nonprofit, interdisciplinary healthcare organization dedicated to preventing medication errors. It's important to acknowledge and prepare for the unavoidable fact that human beings make errors. Assigning blame for an error is not productive. A reliable system to communicate medication orders is essential.
Computerized systems are especially valuable tools.
Computer systems should integrate this information. Educating patients about their medication therapy is a powerful tool in preventing medication errors. Informed patients can provide final protection, especially if they have been taught to challenge anything that seems amiss about their treatments, outcomes, or medication therapy. A good system must be in place to deal with labeling, packaging, and drug nomenclature issues. Unit-dose packaging is a frontline protection against medication errors.