Safety Benefits of a Clinical Pharmacist in the Emergency Department

Interception of chronic medication discrepancies by the clinical pharmacist in the emergency department

The emergency department (ED) is a high-risk setting for the occurrence of medication discrepancies (MDs) due to inconsistencies between real and documented chronic medication therapies. A clinical pharmacist (CP) improves medication safety by performing a structured medication reconciliation on ED admission. The main objective was to identify the frequency and type of MDs in the chronic medication therapy by comparing the medication displayed in the home medication module of the electronic medical record and in the genereal practitioner's (GP) referral letter with the best possible medication history by performing a structured medication reconciliation on ED admission. This prospective, monocentric, interventional study was carried out in the ED of a tertiary care university hospital in Brussels, Belgium. Inclusion criteria were patients of at least 65 years, polypharmacy, ED admission between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, hospitalization and signed informed consent. During 24 days, a CP performed a structured medication reconciliation in order to obtain the best possible medication history and registered all MDs. The CP compared the best possible medication history with the home medication module and the GP's referral letter and registered the different types of MDs. Eighty-three patients were included. The median number of medications in the home medication module and the best possible medication history was significantly different {7.0 [interquartile range (IQR), 5.0-11.0] vs. 8.0 (IQR, 6.0-11.0)/patient; P < 0.0001} with a median of 5.0 (IQR, 3.0-8.0) MDs per patient. Main MDs were omission (38.8%), addition (18.4%) and a deviant administration time (15.2%). Only 22.9% of patients ( N = 19) had a GP's referral letter containing their chronic medication therapy. The median number of medications in the GP's referral letter and the best possible medication history were significantly different [6.0 (IQR, 4.0-9.0) vs. 8.0 (IQR, 7.0-11.0)/patient; P < 0.0001] with a median of 6.0 (IQR, 5.0-11.0) MDs per patient. Main MDs were omissions (39.9%), deviant frequencies (35.3%) and doses (16.7%). A CP, integrated in a multidisciplinary ED team, enhances medication safety by intercepting MDs on ED admission. Few patients possess a GP's referral letter containing their chronic medication therapy and when they do, the accuracy and completeness are poor.

Detection and correction of prescription errors by an emergency department pharmacy service

OBJECTIVES

Emergency departments (EDs) are recognized as a high-risk setting for prescription errors. Pharmacist involvement may be important in reviewing prescriptions to identify and correct errors. The objectives of this study were to describe the frequency and type of prescription errors detected by pharmacists in EDs, determine the proportion of errors that could be corrected, and identify factors associated with prescription errors.

METHODS

This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching ED on 25 consecutive weekdays. Pharmacists reviewed all documented prescriptions and flagged and corrected errors for patients in the ED. We collected information on patient demographics, details on prescription errors, and the pharmacists' recommendations.

RESULTS

A total of 3,136 ED prescriptions were reviewed. The proportion of prescriptions in which a pharmacist identified an error was 3.2% (99 of 3,136; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5-3.8). The types of identified errors were wrong dose (28 of 99, 28.3%), incomplete prescription (27 of 99, 27.3%), wrong frequency (15 of 99, 15.2%), wrong drug (11 of 99, 11.1%), wrong route (1 of 99, 1.0%), and other (17 of 99, 17.2%). The pharmacy service intervened and corrected 78 (78 of 99, 78.8%) errors. Factors associated with prescription errors were patient age over 65 (odds ratio [OR] 2.34; 95% CI 1.32-4.13), prescriptions with more than one medication (OR 5.03; 95% CI 2.54-9.96), and those written by emergency medicine residents compared to attending emergency physicians (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.18-4.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacists in a tertiary ED are able to correct the majority of prescriptions in which they find errors. Errors are more likely to be identified in prescriptions written for older patients, those containing multiple medication orders, and those prescribed by emergency residents.

Further characterization of the influence of crowding on medication errors

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Our prior analysis suggested that error frequency increases disproportionately with Emergency department (ED) crowding. To further characterize, we measured this association while controlling for the number of charts reviewed and the presence of ambulance diversion status. We hypothesized that errors would occur significantly more frequently as crowding increased, even after controlling for higher patient volumes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective, observational study in a large, community hospital ED from May to October of 2009. Our ED has full-time pharmacists who review orders of patients to help identify errors prior to their causing harm. Research volunteers shadowed our ED pharmacists over discrete 4- hour time periods during their reviews of orders on patients in the ED. The total numbers of charts reviewed and errors identified were documented along with details for each error type, severity, and category. We then measured the correlation between error rate (number of errors divided by total number of charts reviewed) and ED occupancy rate while controlling for diversion status during the observational period. We estimated a sample size requirement of at least 45 errors identified to allow detection of an effect size of 0.6 based on our historical data.

RESULTS

During 324 hours of surveillance, 1171 charts were reviewed and 87 errors were identified. Median error rate per 4-hour block was 5.8% of charts reviewed (IQR 0-13). No significant change was seen with ED occupancy rate (Spearman's rho = -.08, P = .49). Median error rate during times on ambulance diversion was almost twice as large (11%, IQR 0-17), but this rate did not reach statistical significance in univariate or multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Error frequency appears to remain relatively constant across the range of crowding in our ED when controlling for patient volume via the quantity of orders reviewed. Error quantity therefore increases with crowding, but not at a rate greater than the expected baseline error rate that occurs in uncrowded conditions. These findings suggest that crowding will increase error quantity in a linear fashion.

Interventions performed by the clinical pharmacist in the emergency department

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the role and importance of the clinical pharmacist in the Emergency Department by means of identification, classification, and assessment of the number of interventions performed by this professional.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study conducted during the period of January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2010, at the Morumbi Emergency Department of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. The interventions were performed by the clinical pharmacists by means of his/her role along with the interdisciplinary team and active search in clinical charts, with daily analysis of medical prescriptions during the period of eight hours (10:00 to 19:00) from Monday to Friday.

RESULTS

A total of 3,542 medical prescriptions were written and there were 1,238 interventions. Classifications and quantities of interventions were as follows: administration route: 105 (8.48%); frequency: 73 (5.89%); dosage: 431 (35%); renal function: 14 (1.13%); compatibility: 50 (4%); dilution: 121 (9.77%); legibility: 39 (3.15%); pharmacovigilance: 7 (0.56%); adverse reaction to medications: 7 (0.56%); allergy: 35 (2.82%); infusion time: 76 (6.13%); indication: 52 (4.20%); medication reconciliation: 2 (0.16%); enteral medication administration: 38 (3%); scheduling: 7 (0.56%); specific anticoagulant protocol: 44 (3.55%); specific hypoglycemic agent protocol: 42 (3.99%).

CONCLUSION

The study allowed the demonstration of the importance of the clinical pharmacist active in the Emergency Department. By the classification and by the number of interventions carried out, it was possible to observe that the Clinical Pharmacy Service had a great impact on the increased safety for the patient and prevention of adverse events.

On-site pharmacists in the ED improve medical errors

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to compare errors in the emergency department (ED) with pharmacists present (PPs) for resuscitations and traumas vs with pharmacists absent (PAs). Our hypothesis was that errors would be significantly fewer during PP than PA times. We also hypothesized that times with PP would affect patients greater when disposition was to more critical areas (intensive care unit, or ICUs).

METHODS

The study was conducted during a 3-month period in 2009 in a level 1 trauma center with an emergency medicine residency. This was a cross-sectional cohort study comparing a prospective analysis of patients during the time (10 hour/day) with PP and a retrospective review of the time on the same days (14 hours/day) with PA. Demographics of age, race, and sex were recorded. Patient disposition was either ICU, operating room, non-ICU wards, observation unit, or discharge. Main outcome was errors recorded including medications given but not ordered, medication ordered but not given, and time delays for medications. For demographics and prevalence, descriptive statistics and percentages were used. Percent differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and χ2 were derived. Logistic regression used predictor variables of age, race, sex, disposition, and presence or absence of pharmacists. An a priori power analysis was performed. The study was powered at 80% with 186 subjects per group (PP vs PA), to find a difference of 20% between the 2 groups in percent of medical errors.

RESULTS

There were 694 patients included in the 3-month period. A total of 242 presented during PP times and 452 during PA times. There were 383 (55%) male, 301 (43%) female, and 10 (2%) unknown sex. Mean age was 45±18 years in PP group and 48±20 years in PA group (P, nonsignificant). There was no difference in ethnicity between groups. There were 6 (3%) patients with errors recorded during PP times and 137 (30%) with errors recorded during PA times (difference, 27%; 95% CI, 23-32). Controlling for age, race, sex, and disposition, medical errors were 13.5 times more likely during PA than during PP times (adjusted odds ratio, 13.5; 95% CI, 5.7-31.9).

CONCLUSION

With pharmacists absent, over 13 times more errors are recorded in our ED than with pharmacists present. An on-site pharmacist in the ED may be helpful in reducing medical errors.

Detection of prescription errors by a unit-based clinical pharmacist in a nephrology ward

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of a clinical pharmacist on detection and prevention of prescription errors at the nephrology ward of a referral hospital.

SETTING

Nephrology ward of a major referral hospital in Southern Iran.

METHOD

During a 4-month period, a clinical pharmacist was assigned to review medication order sheets and drug orders three times a week at the nephrology ward. Besides chart review, the clinical pharmacist participated in medical rounds once a week. The occurrence of prescribing errors, and related harm was determined on hospitalized patients in this ward during the 4 month period. When an error was detected, intervention was made after agreement of the attending physician.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Number and types of prescribing errors, level of harm, and number of interventions were determined.

RESULTS

Seventy six patient charts were reviewed during the 4-month period. A total of 818 medications were ordered in these patients. Eighty six prescribing errors were detected in 46 hospital admissions. The mean age of the patients was 47.7 +/- 17.2. Fifty five percent were male while 45% were female. Different types of prescribing errors and their frequencies were as follows: wrong frequency (37.2%), wrong drug selection (19.8%), overdose (12.8%), failure to discontinue (10.5%), failure to order (7 %), under- dose (3.5%), wrong time (3.5%), monitoring (3.5%), wrong route (1.2%), and drug interaction (1.2 %). The attending physician agreed to 96.5% of the prescription errors detected, and interventions were made. Although 89.5% of the detected errors caused no harm, 4(4.7%) of the errors increased the need for monitoring, 2 (2.3%) increased length of stay, and 2 (2.3%) led to permanent patient harm.

CONCLUSION

presence of a clinical pharmacist at the nephrology ward helps in early detection of prescription errors, and therefore potential prevention of negative consequences due to drug administration.