Medication Dispensing Errors

• Dispensing errors can occur at any stage of the dispensing process.
• Dispensing errors are defined as discrepancies between a prescription and the medicine the pharmacist delivers to the patient.

Types of Dispensing Errors

• Dispensing the wrong medicine to the wrong patient.
• Dispensing the wrong medicine to the patient.
• Dispensing the wrong drug strength.
• Dispensing at the wrong time.
• Dispensing the wrong dosage form.
• Dispensing an expired medicine.
• Omission (failure to dispense).
• Dispensing medicine of inferior quality.
• Dispensing an incorrectly compounded medicine.
• Dispensing with the wrong information on the label.
• Dispensing with wrong verbal information to the patients.

Strategies to Minimize Dispensing Errors

• Confirm that the prescription is complete and correct.
• Ensure good interpretation, noticing similar names and abbreviations.
• Maintain an organized workspace.
• Minimize distractions in the workplace.
• Manage workload effectively.
• Educate patients about their medications.

Investigating Drug Dispensing Practices:

• WHO recommends using quality indicators to investigate dispensing practices.
• Average dispensing communication time.
• Percentage of prescribed items actually dispensed.
• Percentage of prescribed medication that is adequately labeled.
• Patient knowledge provided to the patient.

Conclusion

• Pharmacists need to be careful when dispensing to minimize dispensing errors as much as possible.
• Sometimes dispensing errors may be fatal.