The report concluded that medical errors are the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. The IOM report has identified the economic and human toll of medical errors, but its findings pale in comparison to what we know of the cost and consequences of medication-related problems. Any legislation designed to address problems in medication therapy or to expand the Medicare benefit to include outpatient prescription drugs must include provisions that empower pharmacists to protect patients from the full spectrum of medication-related problems.
Seniors are particularly at risk for medication-related problems.
And, as with medical errors, half of medication-related problems are preventable. This report was provided to Congress and provides a comprehensive overview of medication-related problems in older adults and issues specific recommendations for improving medication use in this population. In particular, the advocacy agenda presented in the ASCP report emphasizes the need to engage and empower pharmacists toward greater involvement in the medication use process. Needed reforms, programs, and processes to address medical errors must also include appropriate action to reduce the incidence of avoidable medication-related problems. And most importantly, any Medicare outpatient prescription drug benefit must include adequate pharmaceutical care services to stave off the catastrophic consequences of more seniors taking more medicines without adequate safeguards.