Hospitals fight medication errors with bar codes, computer guidance

Published: 2006-10-03

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The average hospital patient can expect to be subjected to more than one medication error each day, the Institute of Medicine estimated in its 2006 report, "Preventing Medication Errors," pointing up one of the greatest challenges in U.S. health care today. With four out of five U.S. adults taking prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins or other dietary supplements in any given week and nearly one-third of adults taking five or more medications, according to the report, some mistakes are inevitable. But the institute report projected that there are at least 1.5 million preventable adverse drug reactions in the U.S. each year, resulting in some 7,000 deaths in all settings and adding more than $2 billion to hospital costs annually. Catholic hospitals and health systems are among those taking the lead in confronting the problem.

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