Medication Safety Checklist

Each year, millions of medication errors occur in the health care industry. Nearly all of these errors can be prevented by following the 5 Rights of Medication Administration. The 5 Rights can be applied to home use of medication, as well. Follow this simple checklist to reduce medication errors in the workplace and at home.

The Right Medication

• Giving the right medication is essential; not doing so could be disastrous. Many people have allergies to medications, and some medications are inappropriate for people with certain conditions.

  Verify that the medication is correct. Never move medication from a pharmacy-labeled receptacle to a different container or plastic baggie. This could increase the risk of mixing up medications.

  Many medications have names that are similar. Check the name and spelling of each medication before administering it.

The Right Route

• Give medications using the right route.

  This Right seems obvious, but many medication errors are given via the wrong route, causing adverse reactions. For instance, some suppositories look like capsules. Some medications are meant to dissolve under the tongue instead of being swallowed. Some injections are meant to be given in muscle, not subcutaneous tissue. Read the directions and be sure that the route is correct before administering or taking medication.

The Right Time

• Take medication at the proper time to avoid overdoses.

  Not observing this Right could lead to an overdose. Not all medication bottles designate specific times that they should be given; often, the pharmacy label will read "every 8 hours" or "twice a day." Taking doses too close together could mean that the person is getting too much medication; taking it too far apart or missing a dose means that the patient isn't getting the benefit of the medication.

  The best way to avoid this mistake is to write down what times you take medication--or give it--and follow the pharmacy instructions perfectly.

The Right Patient

• Ensure that the right person is taking a particular medication.

  This Right is especially true for health care institutions like hospitals and nursing homes, but may also be applicable to the home environment.

  Many medication errors arise when health care workers give medication to the wrong patient. The patient may have a similar name or be in the room next door. The patient may be confused or unable to tell the nurse that the medication doesn't belong to them. Health care workers should use all available methods to ensure that they have the right patient, usually by asking them their name and date of birth, and also by looking at some identifying feature, such as a wrist band.

  In the home, medications can be confused when more than one family member uses prescriptions. Look at the label several times to make sure that the medication belongs to the person before giving it.

The Right Dose

• Make sure to administer only the correct dose of medication.

  Giving the wrong dose is another reason that people are injured by medication errors. Sometimes people can become confused by a label that reads "give one twice a day." They may interpret it as taking four pills per day instead of two, or they may take two pills at once.

  This is especially true for injected medications. Make sure the amount is correct by triple-checking dosage calculations.

The Sixth Right: Documentation

• Remember to document all medications.

  In the health care industry, there is also an unofficial "sixth" right: documentation. Many health care workers fail to document the medications they have given, or a patient's response to them. As they saying goes, "If it wasn't documented, it didn't happen." Health care workers should always document. It is a resource that can be verified and it may also protect the employee in the event of a lawsuit.