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Hospital, nursing home, and medication error studies have shown that medical errors have contributed to the deaths of 600,000 hospitalized patients since 2002. This 2004 study also concluded that many proposed methods of nursing home and medication error prevention will not successfully prevent injuries and deaths from medical errors. The Food and Drug Administration has reviewed a number of its policies in order to identify how labeling and dispensing could lead to medication error. The FDA found that there are 51.5 million medication errors committed annually, with more than three million of them potentially life threatening.
A 2001 survey of nearly three thousand nurses nationwide indicated that delayed or missed treatment or medication and the administration of the wrong dose or the wrong medication are the two most common medical mistakes made in the hospital setting. Studies show that nursing home and medication error occurrences are widely underreported. It is estimated that only 1.5 percent of all medication errors are actually reported.
In 1987 the federal government passed the Nursing Home Reform Act whose basic objective is to ensure that nursing home services facilitate the physical, cognitive, and psychological well being of their residents. The Act expressly states that residents are to be free from any significant medication errors. This means that nursing home professionals have a responsibility to prevent medication errors from occurring. In terms of nursing home and medication error prevention, the Act also expressly states that clinical records are to be accurately documented, made accessible, and well organized. The Act also states that pharmaceutical services are to be provided to assure the accurate acquiring, receiving, dispensing, and administering of all medications.
There are a number of times when a medication error can occur, from prescribing errors to medication administration. Nursing home and medication error risks can be considerable because many patients are on a number of prescriptions and have already compromised physical health conditions. Nursing home and medication error risks are also exacerbated by the fact that nursing homes are often understaffed. Research indicates the under the worst staffing conditions, patients have more than a thirty percent greater chance of dying that patients receiving adequate care. There are also nursing home and medication error abuse considerations. Nursing home abuse may involve willful or negligent medication errors which the nursing home is liable for.
When nursing home and medication error cases occur, residents can suffer from serious injury or death. If medication error causes injury to a resident, they have the right to seek compensation for their losses under federal and state nursing home and medication error legal provisions. Nursing homes have an obligation to prevent medication errors and can be required to compensate victims of injury or death as a result of their negligence. If you would like to learn more about nursing home and medication error cases, you may wish to contact a qualified and experienced attorney in your area.
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A former caregiver was arrested Oct. 2 following a nearly year-long investigation of the death of an 80-year old resident of a senior living facility in Calabasas. Cesar Ulloa is also suspected of abusing three other elderly residents of the home.
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