Moyen et al identified risk factors associated with medication errors in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These can help identify a patient who may be at increased risk for a medication error. The authors are from the University of Calgary.
Risk factors for a medication error:
(1) age of the patient very low or very high (at the extremes)
(2) severely ill
(3) prolonged stay in the ICU
(4) sedation or unconsciousness
(5) frequent use of medications administered as a bolus
(6) frequent use of medications administered as an infusion
(7) using estimated weights for weight-based dosage calculations
(8) calculating a mathematical formula by hand to determine a drug dose
(9) use of an infusion pump that requires programming
(10) large number of medications
(11) large number of interventions
(12) difficult working conditions
(13) high stress environment with high turnover in providers
(14) emergency admission
(15) multiple providers involved
Additional risk factors (not listed in the paper):
(1) drugs with narrow therapeutic range
(2) drugs not adjusted for renal failure or comorbid disease
(3) other critically ill patients competing for the provider's attention
