A medication error is a preventable event that can cause patient harm. ED medication errors are derived from prescribing, transcribing, preparation, and dispensing. There are also additional reasons, such as look-alike and sound-alike medications, medications being in the incorrect bin, and the failure to verify the “five rights of medication administration” (right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time). The use of computerized order entry by healthcare providers reduces errors which can interrupt delivery of medications, prolong hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, increase morbidity, and even cause death.
Medication errors in the emergency department medical expert witness specialties include emergency medicine and emergency nursing.