They are categorized into execution errors (wrong actions taken) and planning errors (right action, wrong plan). In 2008, the US Department of Health and Human Services reported 180,000 deaths due to medical errors among hospitalized patients. Medication errors, a subset of medical errors, affect nearly 1.5 million people annually. The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention defines medication errors as any preventable event that could cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient …show more content…
Outpatient and ambulatory care settings, which provide services that do not require hospital admission, have been increasingly prioritized. These settings aim to reduce complications and costs associated with hospital stays while maintaining high-quality care. They also enhance patient satisfaction, support preventive healthcare, manage chronic diseases effectively, and decrease both unplanned medical visits and mortality rates.
Despite the benefits of outpatient and ambulatory care, recent studies in the US and UK indicate a high prevalence of medication errors in these sectors. The National Health Service (NHS) in England reported that 40% of medication errors occur in these settings, with about three-quarters of the 66 million clinically significant errors occurring annually also taking place in outpatient and ambulatory care. This highlights the need for continued focus on reducing medication errors to improve patient safety across all healthcare