syringe labeling, which increases
the risk of misidentifying drugs and
dose strengths.
The variability of surgery can
also contribute to medication
mishaps. Some anesthesia
providers fill syringes with more
than the required dose with the
intention of administering incre-
mental amounts based on how the
patient responds to each push.
That practice increases the risk of
giving an incorrect amount. The
ability of anesthesia providers to
react quickly to symptoms of
adverse events caused by medica-
tions they administer might also
contribute to an underreporting of
medication errors. (If patient harm is adverted, did an error occur?)
Medication safety technology can greatly reduce the incidence of
errors when integrated into an overall care approach. For example,
automated dispensing anesthesia carts help ensure that providers
have access to the correct drug for administration. Additionally, point-
of-use barcode scanners provide audio and visual confirmation of
scanned drugs, automatically generate accurate and legible labels you
can affix to syringes, and track the medications used during cases.
Prefilled syringes are another medication safety upgrade worth
considering. They feature easy-to-read, color-coded (based on
drug class) labels that clearly note the medication's name, concen-
6 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
• HIGH RELIABILITY The human element makes medication
errors inevitable, but you can take steps to ensure mistakes
don't reach patients.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
