A recent US study of 30,000 medication errors, some fatal, showed 5% were linked to abbreviations in notes. Abbreviations can cause confusion and risk patient safety. Dr Sally Old, MDU medico-legal adviser. Common errors included abbreviating drug names and dosages, the Joint Commission found.
Full Answer
Do medical abbreviations pose a risk to patients?
Although the risk of actual patient harm from use of medical abbreviations is low, the aim is to achieve a zero risk. Pearls of Wisdom To minimize the use of medical abbreviations, the following guidelines are recommended: Develop a regular campaign to erase the use of medical abbreviations in your institution completely
How can I prevent medical abbreviations from being used in healthcare?
Create a list of "do not use" abbreviations and post them on medical and surgical floors, patient charts, pharmacy, computer screen, intranet site, hospital newsletter and healthcare lounges. Initiate educational programs for all staff on the dangers of using abbreviations Reward healthcare staff who are compliant
What are some examples of abbreviations in medical terminology?
Some examples of personal abbreviations and other slang from actual charts are: “CYA”: Cover Your @**, which is an unnecessary prescription or procedure ordered to avoid being sued (the inclusion of which could result in just the opposite!) “Departure Lounge” or “Death Row”: the geriatric ward of your hospital.
Are abbreviations in prescriptions and medical records a problem?
Abbreviations, used to save time and space, have become ubiquitous in prescriptions and medical records. However, they are frequently a source of confusion and can be a major risk in clinical practice.
Why do doctors use abbreviations?
Doctors often use abbreviations or shorthand to save time during surgical procedures, emergency rooms, and when discharging patients.
What happens if you get injured by a medical error?
After a Medical Error. If you were injured because of a medical mix-up, medication error, or prescription error, your injury may have been caused by medical negligence. A medical malpractice lawsuit can help you get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries.
What does it mean when a doctor talks to a patient?
When a doctor is talking to a patient, it may sound like the doctor is speaking another language. Medical terminology, treatments, medications, and diseases may have scientific terms and common language terms. Sometimes doctors are not concerned with making sure the patient really understands what they are saying, ...
What does Q.D. mean?
Q.D. can be mistaken for q.i.d., meaning 4 times daily. This mistake could cause a patient to take 4 times the recommended dose in one day, potentially causing injury or serious harm. Similarly, Q.O.D. means every other day which could also be confused with Q.D. or Q.I.D.
Is medical abbreviation regulated?
However, abbreviations have not historically been regulated and there may be abbreviations that can stand for multiple things or be open to interpretation. The US Institute of Safe Medication Practices has received many reports of medical errors and mistakes caused by misinterpretation of medical abbreviations.
Can a prescription be read as 5?
A prescription for .5 could be read as 5 if the decimal is not seen. To remedy this, doctors should put a zero before the decimal, as 0.5. Another of the most common problems involves using drug name abbreviations. There are hundreds of drug names that already sound or look similar, even when completely spelled out.
Introduction
The use of medical terms and abbreviations is an integral part of the process of healthcare. On the one hand, the application of terminology is inevitable, and abbreviations can save time, which is essential for healthcare facilities.
Importance of Correct Spelling of Medical Terms and Use of Accepted Abbreviations
Proper spelling of medical terms and correct use of abbreviations is crucial to healthcare. The data from the national medication error-reporting program show that in the period from 2004 to 2006 there were 4.7% of medical errors due to abbreviation use among the reported 643,151 (Rodwin, 2013).
Effects of Spelling and Abbreviation Errors
The prevalence of terminology and abbreviation use is high among doctors and nurses. The research reveals that their motivation to do so includes saving time, convenience, and avoidance of writing full sentences (Koh et al., 2015).
Ways to Avoid Mistakes in Spelling or Abbreviating Medical Terms
There are some ways to avoid mistakes in spelling and abbreviating medical terms. First of all, it is advisable to reduce their use. Secondly, a careful check of spelling and abbreviating is necessary. It will allow minimizing accidental mistakes. Thirdly, only accepted abbreviations should be used.
Conclusion
On the whole, the system of healthcare cannot exclude terminology and abbreviations. However, their excessive use should be limited to reduce the incidence of misspelling and misinterpretation, which can lead to medical errors. Thus, careful use of terms and abbreviation is an important component of patient safety.
What are some examples of personal abbreviations?
Some examples of personal abbreviations and other slang from actual charts are: “Guts and Butts”: your local gastroenterologist.
What does MS stand for in medicine?
Medication abbreviations “MS,” “MSO4,” and “MgSO4”: In the first instance, “MS” has been interpreted as morphine sulfate and magnesium sulfate when the other was intended. The other abbreviations have been confused for one another, so they both are prohibited.