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Learning Objective 1: identify the state of evidence on medication errors in nursing homes
Learning Objective 2: discuss one method of decreasing medication errors in nursing homes
Significance: Current research indicates that one in every five medication doses is an error and 48% of nursing home residents take nine or more medications daily. It is estimated that there are 1.9 million drug-related adverse drug events occurring in nursing homes yearly. 60% of these events are serious, life-threatening or fatal. The cost of these adverse drug events is estimated to be $1.8 billion yearly in long-term care.
Review of Evidence: There have been limited studies done on medication errors in all healthcare environments. Those specific to nursing homes have mostly been completed in two states, Massachusetts and North Carolina limiting their generalizability. The State of North Carolina has legislated medication administration and medication error education on hire and annually and includes specific areas of education required for nursing staff. A workbook based on expert opinion has been created by Masspro specific to the nursing home environment. The experts that compiled the Institute of Medicine, Quality Chasm Series, Preventing Medication Errors, recommend five methods to prevent errors in nursing homes: 1) regulation; 2) profiling provider ordering patterns; 3) establishing medication therapy management teams; 4) use of technology; and 5) education of nursing and provider staff.
Conclusions: Limited research has been done on medication errors in nursing homes. Current best practice evidence is based on expert opinion. Further studies are needed to determine the best practices for nursing homes.