Pediatric ED Medication Errors: Worse Than We Thought

Medication errors contribute significantly to patient morbidity and mortality and are more common in pediatric patients than in adult patients. In a retrospective review of emergency department records, researchers determined the incidence and consequences of medication errors in critically ill or injured children (triaged in the highest of 3 acuity levels) who presented to four EDs in rural, underserved communities in California during a 3-year period.

Each hospital treated between 700 and 2000 children per year. None of the hospitals had computerized systems for order entry, tracking, or medication administration, and pharmacists were not involved in any aspect of ED medication administration. The EDs were staffed by physicians trained in …