Lecture Summary

This talk examines the prevalence of medication errors in diverse areas of intensive care and the outcomes associated with medication errors occurring in intensive care. Consideration is given to various interventions that have been shown to impact on reducing medication errors. These interventions include interprofessional communication, computerised provider order entry, communication about sound-alike and look-alike medications, smart pumps to titrate doses, tools to titrate and evaluate the effects of medications, patient and family involvement, and direct observation and feedback. The use of diverse approaches helps to address this very complex problem of reducing medication errors.

Target Audience

Critical Care Nurses
Trainee Critical Care Doctors

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to:

• Describe the prevalence of medication errors in diverse intensive care settings
• Understand the key outcomes associated with medication errors in intensive care
• Explain the interventions that can be used to reduce medication errors in intensive care
• Consider practical implications of how various interventions can be utilised in intensive care environments

None.