Medical Errors: Avoid Them by Taking Charge of Your Health

Medical errors involving medications are both the most common and the most preventable of medical errors. Frequently, these mistakes are a result of miscommunication between you and your health-care providers. Fortunately, most errors are easily prevented if you are aware and involved with your health care. For this to happen, you will have to talk and work with your doctor and pharmacist.

Doctors are not often aware of all the side effects and interactions of the medications they prescribe. Your pharmacist is the one who knows all those details. This is why you must work with both professionals to ensure that errors do not occur. For example, when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism my doctor prescribed Synthroid daily at night. He said this would be less likely to cause any stomach problems because I would be going to sleep...or so he thought. After two weeks of extreme difficulty sleeping and being exhausted, I spoke to my pharmacist and found out that hypothyroid medications should always be taken in the morning as they will give you an energy boost.

You need to make sure both your doctor and your pharmacist know about every medication you take on a regular basis to prevent medical errors caused by drug interactions. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and even any dietary supplements like vitamins and herbs. Drugs that are harmless by themselves can have annoying or dangerous side effects when mixed together. Make sure that both the doctor and the pharmacist know of any sensitivities or allergies to medications. This is a good reason to stick to one pharmacy since once the information is in the computer, the pharmacist will flag possible problems with drug interactions or allergies.

When your doctor gives you a prescription, read it. Confirm with the doctor what the medication is, what dosage is being prescribed, how often you are supposed to be taking it, and how spaced out you should be taking it. By spaced out, I mean how far apart you should take medication if it's given multiple times in a day. There can be a big difference in effect for some medications between "four times a day" and "every 6 hours". If you don't understand something, ask the doctor what it means. Now when you have the prescription filled, you'll be able to answer any questions the pharmacist may have. They certainly have more experience than us in reading a doctor's handwriting but even they can't always decipher the chicken scratchings.

When you speak to the pharmacist about a new medication, make sure to get the side effect sheet printed. By law, they must have one available and then you'll have the copy for your records. Make sure he's aware of other medications you are on and ask about possible interactions. Another good question to ask is whether you should take the medication with food or on an empty stomach. Some medications can damage the stomach lining if taken on an empty stomach so be sure to follow the pharmacist's direction to be safe. You should also ask if you should limit any activities, such as driving, while you are taking the medication.

You must make sure you are taking the correct dosage and form of the medication to avoid medical errors. For liquid medications you should use a measuring spoon or syringe designed for liquids. It's common practice for people to use a household teaspoon but it is rare that the spoon actually measures a teaspoon. Capsules should never, ever be opened without consulting with the pharmacist. Capsulized medication is usually designed to be time-released into your system and can be dangerous when ingested after opening. Tablet medications ideally should be swallowed whole and with a glass of water. If needed, some tablets can be cut in half or crushed to make them easier to take. Not all tablets can be altered safely so be sure to ask before doing so.

Research has shown that patients who are highly involved with their own healthcare typically get better results. Therefore, the most important thing you can do to prevent medical errors is to take an active role in your medications and healthcare. Ask questions to clarify what, when and how you are to take your medication. Share any concerns with the pharmacist about side effects or drug interactions. Always check before changing the form of any medication you take. Medical errors can occur anywhere in the healthcare system but you can prevent many of the common medication errors just by being more responsible for your own care.