Recommendations for Reducing Tenfold & Other Dose Calculation Errors

Are you trying to prevent drug dosing errors?

Are all health care professionals trained and periodically tested in dose calculations?

Have individuals who are likely to make dosing errors been identified and given extra instruction?

Have drugs that are at high risk for dosing errors been identified for special review?

Have situations and locations where dose calculations errors are likely to occur been identified for review?

Have patients who are at risk for dose miscalculations been identified for additional review?

Have steps been taken to make sure that orders are clear and understandable?

Are all dose calculations independently double-checked?

Are computers used to perform and check calculations at the various steps of drug dosing and release?

Have all hazardous drugs that are not essential been removed from the wards?

Is unit dosing used whenever possible?

Are steps taken to ensure that instructions are understood by patients and their families?

Are clinical pharmacists involved in oversight of drug dosing?

Are all dosing errors reported for quality review and analyzed for contributing factors?

Is there a process in place to resolve disagreements?