Implementing technologies to prevent medication errors at a high-complexity hospital: analysis of cost and results

Abstract

Objective: To calculate the cost and assess the results on implementing technological resources that can prevent medication errors. Methods: A retrospective, descriptive-exploratory, quantitative study (2007-2015), in the model of case study at a hospital in the Brazilian Southeastern Region. The direct cost of each technology was calculated in the drug chain. Technological efficacy was observed from the reported series of the indicator incidence of medication errors. Results: Thirteen technologies were identified to prevent medication errors. The average cost of these technologies per year in the prescription stage was R$ 3.251.757,00; in dispensing, R$ 2.979.397,10; and in administration, R$ 4.028.351,00. The indicator of medication error incidence decreased by 97.5%, gradually between 2007 to 2015, ranging from 2.4% to 0.06%. Conclusion: The average cost per year of the organization to implement preventive technologies in the drug chain totaled up R$ 10.259.505,10. There was an average investment/year of R$ 55,72 per patient and its association with smaller indicator of incidence of medication errors confirms a satisfactory result in this reported series regarding such investment.

A Atuação Do Farmacêutico Clínico Como Interventor Na Identificação De Problemas Relacionados a Medicamentos Em Hospitais: Uma Revisão De Sistemática

“…Os PRM podem gerar altos custos no serviço de saúde, assim como podem ocasionar outros transtornos, tais como mudança no resultado terapêutico dos pacientes, problemas psicológicos a estes e aos profissionais envolvidos e podem aumentar os índices de morbimortalidade. Com base nisso, investir em ferramentas e nas competências da profissão farmacêutica é fundamental para prevenir esses problemas, além de favorecerem no processo de tomada de decisão sobre a farmacoterapia envolvida e promover uma cultura de segurança ao paciente (13).…”

Safety in the administration of injectable medications: Scoping review

“…Thus, it is intuitive that the investment in technologies is real and based on scientific evidence of quality, seeking to identify and analyze its effectiveness when referring to the indicator of quality, frequency, and incidence of errors in drug administration. Vilela et al (2019) evaluated the cost and effectiveness of the implementation of technologies aimed at the administration of medication. The investments made in the study comprise values of approximately R$ 3,251,757.00 in prescription technologies, approximately R$ 2,979,397.10 in the dispensation, and the amount of R$ 4,028,351.00 in the administration, considering the current minimum wage of R$722.00 and R$788.00 in the years of acquisition of the technologies, i.e., 2014 and 2015, respectively.…”

“…Regarding the use of infusion pump, this was described as one of the essential interventions for the administration of medications in the studies by Franz et al (2016), Alotaibi et al (2017), andVilela et al (2019), since they reduced errors related to the dosage. It is note point that modernity also brings the improvement of health equipment to make them even more effective and easy to use.…”

Erros De Dispensação De Medicamentos E Intervenções Farmacêuticas Relacionadas/ Medication Dispensing Errors and Related Pharmaceutical Interventions

“…Apesar de a literatura não privilegiar a publicação dos erros de dispensação, quando comparados aos erros de prescrição e administração (18), ressalta-se que as consequências dos erros de dispensação podem ser significativas tais como o alto custo para o sistema de saúde, a alteração dos resultados terapêuticos esperados para os pacientes e o aumento morbimortalidade, além de problemas psicológicos para os profissionais de saúde envolvidos nos processos (25).…”