Medication Errors

If you have a very common name it is a good idea to know your medical record number or check that the date of birth is right every time...for medications and tests. Large hospitals and cancer centers can have a ton of patients with the same name and mistakes do happen. I recommend using a patient safety checklist.
1. Know what medication you are taking, the dosage, the generic and brand names, and understand why you are taking it.
2. Before medication is administered to you as a patient in the hospital, repeat your name, date of birth, your physician's name, your diagnosis, and the medications you are supposed to be taking.
3. Check to see if the medication that is about to be administered to you matches what you know. If something is unusual or different, ask questions and speak up in a polite manner.
If you are unable to implement these strategies, enlist a loved one to act as your advocate.
Medication mistakes are the most common medical errors, harming 1.5 million patients a year. You can prevent this simply by being your own watchdog and understanding which medications you are taking.