Medication Errors Involving Patient-controlled Analgesia

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.
^bBased on the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention index for categorizing medication errors (www.nccmerp.org). Category A events are circumstances or events that have the capacity to cause error. Category B errors are errors that occurred but did not reach the patient. Category C errors reached the patient but did not harm the patient. Category D errors either required monitoring to confirm that they resulted in no harm or required intervention to preclude harm. Category E errors may have contributed to or resulted in temporary harm and required intervention. Category F errors may have contributed to or resulted in temporary harm and required initial or prolonged hospitalization. Category G errors may have contributed to or resulted in permanent harm. Category H errors required intervention to sustain life. Category I errors may have contributed to or resulted in the patient's death.

^aAge information was available for error categories C through I only.
^bNonharmful errors include National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention category A-D errors, and harmful errors include category E-I errors.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.
^bThis error type was added as a selection option in calendar year 2002.
^cThis error type was added as a selection option in calendar year 2004.

^aThis error type was added as a selection option in calendar year 2002.
^bThis error type was added as a selection option in calendar year 2004.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30. "None" was not available as a selection option.
^bThis contributing factor was not available as a selection option in all five study years.
^cPatient movement from one clinical area to another.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.
^bThis action was not available as a selection option in all five study years.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.
^bLPNs = licensed practical nurses.
^cLVNs = licensed vocational nurses.

^aYears begin July 1 and end June 30.
^bICU = intensive care unit.

Authors and Disclosures

Rodney W. Hicks, PhD, ARNP, is University Medical Center Health. System Hospital Endowed Chair for Patient Safety and Professor, School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock; at the time of writing he was Manager, Patient Safety Research and Practice, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), Rockville, MD.

Vanja Sikirica, PharmD, is Manager, Outcomes Research, Internal Medicine, Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC (OMJSA), Raritan, NJ.

Winnie Nelson, PharmD, MS, is Associate. Director, Xcenda, Palm Harbor, FL.

Jeff R. Schein, DrPH, MPH, is Senior Director, Outcomes Research, Internal Medicine, OMJSA.

Diane D. Cousins, BBPharm, is Vice President, Healthcare Quality and Information, USP.