Blood Thinners Cited for 7% of Medication Errors in Hospitals

Blood thinners, commonly used to treat patients who are hospitalized, account for 7% of medication errors in hospital settings, according to the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
Pharmacology experts note that these medication errors can be reduced by having a pharmacist on patient rounds can reduce the number of errors by around 78 percent. Better communication between the treatment team and the patient may also help reduce medication errors. According to Medical News Today, “An anticoagulation management system must have a reliable way of tracking patients receiving therapy as well being integrated with all patient-care resources in the health care system.

To ensure the proper management of all drug therapies, evidence-based standards of practice should be implemented. A periodical review of clinical standards should constantly be reviewed and updated to make sure that they are consistent with current evidence.”