South Carolina has 2,039 nursing homes, which can accommodate up to 43,678 residents. Up to 27% of nursing home residents have been victims of medication error.
Jordan Law Center explains medication errors in nursing homes and what you need to know.
Understanding Nursing Home Medication Errors
A nursing home medication error occurs when a resident does not receive a drug they should receive in the time and manner in which they should receive it. Nursing home medication errors also include someone receiving a drug they should not receive. Nursing home medication errors happen in a wide variety of contexts and with many causes.
Types of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes?
- Wrong patient—Medication is given to someone who doesn’t have a prescription for that medication.
- Too high a dose—Someone is given more of a medication than they should receive.
- Too low a dose—The resident isn’t given enough of the medication.
- Scheduling errors—Dispensing doesn’t happen according to schedule.
- Dispensing error —The drug is given in the wrong way, with an improper method or means.
- Sharing medications—Residents may share medications with or without facilitation from caregivers.
- Lack of monitoring—A patient isn’t monitored for side effects and bad reactions.
- Not given medication—Drugs are not dispensed when they should be.
- Drug interactions—Two drugs taken at the same time interact and cause harm.
- Allergies—Administering a drug despite the person being allergic to it.
How Nursing Home Medication Errors Happen
Errors in a nursing home may be administrative or individual.
Administrative medication errors
Administrative errors can result from a lack of standardized procedures. There may be understaffing issues that prevent caregivers from giving their full attention to the task of dispensing medication. Technology may fail. Needed communication between caregivers may be lacking.
Individual medication errors
An individual caregiver can make a mistake in dispensing medication. They may fail to read a chart carefully or may not double-check before dispensing medication. A caregiver may be disrupted while working with a patient, resulting in a mistake. These individual errors can occur quickly, with lasting consequences.
Combination of factors
A nursing home medication error can result from multiple issues co-occurring. The underlying causes can be complex.
Risk factors
Risk of medication error increases with the number of medications a person takes. In addition, someone who has multiple prescribers may be more likely to suffer harm from an error. Older patients have greater incidence of hospital admission for medication error than younger people.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Nursing Home Medication Errors?
A nursing home can be held liable for a medication error. Healthcare professionals, like a hospital, doctor, or nurse who provides services in the nursing home, may also be at fault.
If the nursing home contracts with a third party to provide staffing services, the agency may have liability. If the error can be traced to a pharmacy filling the prescription, they may have legal fault.
The questions for determining who can be liable for a nursing home medication error are the following:
- What mistake or mistakes were made that resulted in the error?
- Are there underlying or secondary causes?
- Who made the mistakes?
- What company or entity do they work for?
- Did negligence or more serious misconduct occur?
Most nursing home medication error liability is based on negligence. While the person responsible may not have intended any harm, negligence may be sufficient basis for liability. In addition, recklessness or intentional misconduct may be the basis for fault.
Impact of Medication Errors
One study found that medication errors cost the U.S. economy $21 billion annually. In addition to financial costs, medication errors can result in great personal costs.
Medication errors result in up to 98,000 deaths annually in the United States. The World Health Organization ranks medication errors as a top 10 cause of death and disability in the world.
A patient may suffer an adverse drug event (ADE). They may need additional healthcare to address the harmful effects of the drug. Plus, they may not receive the medication they need, which can result in a worse overall outcome for their underlying medical condition.
Compensation claims
Most nursing home medication errors do not result in physical harm to the patient. Many errors in prescribing are caught before the drug is dispensed. However, when injury occurs, it can cause serious harm, including wrongful death.
A victim of a nursing home medication error may qualify to receive a monetary award. If you or a loved one has been harmed, contact a nursing home negligence attorney at Jordan Law Center to discuss your case.
Steps To Take If You Suspect a Medication Error in a Nursing Home
If you suspect a medication error in a nursing home, seek medical attention for the victim. The person may need emergency care. Report the problem to caregivers.
Keep records of anything related to the error. Make notes of what caregivers say and pay special attention to how they explain what happened. Document medical attention that the person receives, as well as all related expenses.
Don’t wait to contact a Greenville nursing home abuse lawyer.
How a Greenville Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help
A Greenville nursing home abuse lawyer can assist with the following:
- Investigating how the nursing home medication error occurred
- Determining who may have legal fault
- Gathering the evidence to prove the case
- Knowing the value of the case
- Negotiating compensation
- Handling the technical steps of the case
- Answering your questions
A lawyer can help the victim of a medication error in a nursing home claim financial compensation. In the process, the nursing home may be held responsible, while changes may occur that can prevent additional harm.
Contact a Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a nursing home medication error, please contact Jordan Law Center. We offer free consultations for victims and families. See what your case may be worth and get legal help now.
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