Reducing Perioperative Medication Errors: How to Build Safer Systems

Patient safety in the perioperative setting is a global challenge, where higher rates of preventable medication errors occur due to the complexity and critical nature of care and the unique medication use processes which bypasses standard safety checks. In this chapter, numerous strategies and best practices recommended by professional and safety organizations to prevent and mitigate medication errors are described. Strategies are based on standardization of drug labels, concentrations and trays, technologies such as “smart pump,” clinical decision support and barcode-assisted medication administration, eliminating look-alike drugs, adopting premixed solutions, and clinical pharmacy service. Improving patient safety involves leadership commitment to enhance the organizational culture of safety and to redesign systems that allow high reliability and consistent excellence.