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Over one million people annually suffer from different “medication errors” in the United States. The majority of medical mistakes usually happen while a person is being cared for in a healthcare facility. Others may take place anywhere, even in a patient’s home. There are so many cases that may be attached to medical errors and unfortunately some of them even cause death of a patient.
One of these cases destroyed lived of two people – nurse Kimberly Hiatt and her little patient.
Last Sept. 14 she suddenly realized that incidentally gave 8-month-old Kaia Zautner a doze of calcium that was 10 times larger that the right doze.
Kimberly Hiatt got scared for the baby and immediately informed other staff at the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Seattle Hospital.
This inaccuracy resulted in a nightmare that ended with the death of the little baby and suicide of Kimberly Hiatt on April 3 at age 50. It was the first medical error of Kimberly for all her 24-year career.
But before committing the suicide Kimberly went through the humiliation of administrative leave and dismissal. What is worse is the fact that nurse had cared for Kaia many times since her birth. She knew the whole family very well. And it tore at heart that parents of the baby did not ask for any punishment. They didn’t want somebody to have head cut off over this.
So, what can usual people do to protect themselves from medical mistakes from the point of view of the FMEA process?
First of all when doctor gives you some prescription, ask him to tell you the name of the medicine, the right dosage.
In the hospital, ask the name, the purpose and the correct dosage of each medicine you are given.
Tell you doctor the names of all non-prescription and prescription drugs you are taking. This is a simple way to prevent a widely spread medical mistake.
There is no way to find out when the fatal mistake will tale place. As it is shown in the example above even the most experienced registered nurse who has worked in healthcare sphere for many years can make a mistake. There are no guarantees when it comes to someone’s health. So, never fear to ask questions. If it will save your live, it is worth it. You and your family must not become the victims of a medical error.
Besides patients hospitals also have to take some measures to reduce fatal errors.
Working conditions for all hospital staff including nurses need to be enhanced. Reducing the length of nursing shifts will allow them to spend more time for rest.
Medical equipment need to be standardized, so that every doctor or curse could simply use it. Many fatal mistakes take place because doctors had to use unfamiliar medical equipment and accidentally killed their patients instead of saving them.
New technology should be used to improve accuracy in medication dosages. Innovations in this sphere will allow hospital staff to put all the necessary information in the computer so that they do not need to remember so many details.
New national database should be created for error reporting and analysis. This system will help scientists to understand the inner reasons of medical mistakes.
The issue of medical errors is not a new one. However despite all the attempts to reduce the quantity of lethal mistakes they still take place all over the world. That is why only the team-work of patients and hospital staff may help patients to leave healthcare facilities healthier and stronger.