Table 2 Severity of medication errors associated with possible outcomes for patient harm (N = 11,540)
Patient outcome | n | % |
|---|---|---|
1. Circumstances have the capacity to cause error | 117 | 1.0 |
2. Error occurred but the error did not reach the patient | 1834 | 15.9 |
3. Error occurred that reached the patient, but did not cause harm | 1732 | 15.0 |
4. Error occurred that reached the patient and required monitoring or intervention to confirm no harm | 7095 | 61.5 |
5. Error occurred that may have resulted in temporary harm and required intervention | 673 | 5.8 |
6. Error occurred that may have resulted in temporary harm and required prolonged hospitalisation | 75 | 0.6 |
7. Error occurred that may have resulted in permanent patient harm | 8 | 0.07 |
8. Error occurred that may have required intervention necessary to sustain life | 1 | 0.009 |
9. Error occurred that may have contributed to or resulted in the patient’s death | 5 | 0.04 |
Electronic system | n | % |
Prescribing (n = 562) | ||
 Patient outcome 1–3 | 301 | 53.6 |
 Patient outcome 4–9 | 261 | 46.4 |
Dispensing (n = 61) | ||
 Patient outcome 1–3 | 42 | 68.9 |
 Patient outcome 4–9 | 19 | 31.1 |
Administering (n = 324) | ||
 Patient outcome 1–3 | 108 | 33.3 |
 Patient outcome 4–9 | 216 | 66.7 |