Medication error standardization definition

A variety of error rates for different aspects of the medication use process have been reported. Researchers use different methodologies and definitions of medication error, and study different aspects of the medication use process (i.e., prescribing, dispensing, administering). Because there is no national standardization for the denominator used to report medication error rates, the denominator can vary among several, including doses dispensed, doses administered, doses ordered, and patient days. Therefore, the rates reported in the literature are limited in their use for comparative purposes [5]. 

Since the Council s formation, it has produced several important work products. Among them are the standardization definition of the medication error, the development of a series of recommendations designed to reduce errors in the medication use process, and the... 

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