Medicine Errors Preventable
Results from a study released recently found that medication errors and overdoses harm roughly one out of 15 hospitalized children. The number is exceedingly higher than earlier estimates. In response, the Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits most of the nation’s hospitals, alerted hospitals to weigh children in kilograms instead of pounds when they are admitted. Weight in kilograms is the traditional way used to calculate the proper dose for children, but some hospitals still weigh them in pounds. In addition, the Joint Commission said hospitals should keep adult medications away from pediatric care units and avoid storing adult and children’s medicines in the same automatic dispensing machine or drug cabinet. The warning reminds hospitals that pediatric errors are common, but avoidable.
