Patients who are taking their own medications while in the hospital are at an increased risk for medication errors, according to a new study. The study, which is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that patients who took their own medications while in the hospital were more likely to be given the wrong medication, have their medication discontinued, or have a medication error occur. Patients who are taking their own medications while in the hospital should be aware of the risks and be sure to tell their doctors and nurses about their medications, the study authors say.
Between July 1, 2004 and January 31, 2011, 879 medication errors were reported to Pennsylvania facilities. According to the reports, patients were exposed to more than 300 different medications, with 18.7% revealing that they took more than one medication at the same time. It is critical to provide patients with strategies to avoid harm while taking their own medications. It may be difficult for larger community and rural hospitals to maintain a large medication inventory due to a lack of space and funds. According to a survey of pharmacy directors at small hospitals, a majority of patients are allowed to use their own medications. Several Pennsylvania facilities have provided reports to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. The adult population accounted for more than 61.8% of the reports (n = 534), while the elderly accounted for 36.6%.
Almost 300 different medications were reported to the Authority by 879 different sources. In 164 reports, patients took a total of nearly 1,300 medications, with the majority of them taking multiple medications. Prescription pain relievers accounted for more than 475,000 emergency department visits in 2009. In 67% of cases, the patient took their own controlled substance. The patient had empty bottles of Vicodin and Darvocet in his drawer. Tylenol and aspirin, along with over-the-counter medications such as these, were also brought in. Patients who received high-alert medication were transferred to a higher level of care 40% of the time (n = 28) after 70 events.
Analysts reviewed event descriptions to see if reporting facilities mentioned the reasons why patients needed to self-administer their medication. The majority of the reports involved patients bringing in their own medications without notifying facility personnel. The husband administered the medications by putting a peg tube into the patient. In a doctor-patient discussion, a patient claimed that he took his own Coumadin® because he believed that we had forgotten to order it. A total of 12.6% of reports indicated that patients self-administered their medications. Due to the unauthorized dose, there was no negative outcome reported. The father of the patient was irritated by the delay in receiving medications for his daughter from the nursing unit.
He then administered her Imuran® [azathioprine] from her home. This medication was not approved by the pharmacy and was not available in the United States. Assess the risk of patient use of their own medications in a timely manner. Establish a screening procedure for patients admitted to the facility with prior histories of bringing in their own medications. Examine patient administration records to determine how specific directions for their own medications are listed. Check to see if current organization policies and procedures are in line with the following items.
POMs are medications that patients obtain in the community and transport to the hospital when they are admitted to a hospital. There has been insufficient research on the use of POMs. To determine the benefits, risks, and other impacts of POM use in hospitals.
Can Patients Take Their Own Meds In The Hospital?
Credit: blog.medicaresolutions.com
If a patient intends to keep his or her own medication(s), it is discouraged due to a lack of understanding of how it will be stored and handled prior to being admitted to the hospital. A patient’s own medication may be prescribed as long as the patient has received a written order from a physician or another authorized prescriber.
In many hospitals, medication is dispensed from a pharmacy. As a result, doctors may alter a patient’s dosage and medication, which is why home prescriptions are not appropriate while in the hospital. University Hospitals, according to a statement, allows physicians to continue providing a medication the hospital is unable to provide in addition to implementing processes in place to accommodate their wishes. Medications supplied by hospitals are both safe and effective. Furthermore, they ensure that they are not allowed to decompose or to be stored in extreme temperatures. Taking medication from home may increase the cost of the medication and delay receiving it for an extended period of time. When a patient is admitted to a hospital, he or she usually saves money by taking the hospital’s medications.
The Pros And Cons Of Bringing Medications To The Hospital
There are several ways to bring medications to the hospital in cases where medication is not required. Your health team will be better able to anticipate your needs if they are familiar with your medications and their interactions. In the second case, if you are admitted to the hospital, your medications will be delivered directly to your room rather than having to be retrieved from home. Finally, if you have an adverse reaction to a medication while in the hospital, your care team will be better able to identify and address the issue. Please keep in mind that certain medications, including controlled substances, are not permitted in hospitals.
Should I Bring My Medications To The Hospital?
Make sure the nurse and doctor who will be caring for you have all of the medications, supplements, and herbs you are taking. Make a list of all of these and bring the necessary medications to show your health care team. This list should be kept in your wallet at all times, so that you never run out of things to do.
Patient’s Responsibility To Keep Track Of Medications
If the patient is unable to take all of their medications with them, they must be given to the nurse. The nurse should keep track of medication by placing it in a clear bag.
Can Nurses Give Patients Medication?
It is generally recommended that registered nurses only give medication to patients who have received a physician’s order. Advanced practice nurses are the only ones who have prescriptive authority, and their qualifications, as well as the type of drug and the amount of drug that they can prescribe, vary from state to state.
The Importance Of Nurses In Medication Administration
Nurses are critical to medication administration. The vast majority of states allow RNs and APRNs to administer medications or provide samples, but less than half allow RNs to do so. In 16 states, registered nurses may dispense some medications, such as contraceptives and drugs for STI treatment, in outpatient settings such as health departments or family planning clinics. The five “rights” are to ensure the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time, all of which are recommended to reduce medication errors and harm. This would most likely be accomplished in a single step, but this is frequently accomplished in a more manageable manner. Three of the four rights are required, but the fourth, the right time, is especially important because it ensures that the medication is given in the appropriate dose at the appropriate time. Can a nurse give you an OTC medication without a prescription? A registered nurse cannot order OTC medications to be administered without a provider order. Nurses must adhere to the nursing knowledge, judgment, and skill that they have acquired when providing medication without an order. How is a nurse involved in medication administration? As a nursing supervisor, your job is to ensure that the appropriate medication is properly formulated in the proper dose and administered to the appropriate patient at the appropriate time. Many hospitals have a single-dose system in place to avoid or reduce errors related to administration.
