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Are Virginia nursing home residents being hurt or killed by medication errors?

As a part of standard care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, doctors, nurses and other staff members are expected to assist residents with their prescription medications. Prescription drugs must be taken on time and at the correct dose to be effective, however this does not always happen.

Medication errors are not as rare as people might imagine. In fact, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) study estimates that hospital medication-related errors kill as many as 40,000 to 100,000 people each year. There are no exact figures for medication mistakes in Virginia nursing homes, but the issue is serious enough to capture the attention of researchers.

According to a study to be published in “Quality and Safety in Health Care” claims that 7 out of 10 nursing home residents have been the victims of a prescription drug error.

What can go wrong with a nursing home patient’s prescription medication?

• The prescription itself could be written for the wrong drug or prescribed by a doctor unfamiliar with the patient
• The dose prescribed could be incorrect
• The drug could be inappropriate for the elder’s age, condition, or medical history
• The drug was dispensed incorrectly (incorrect medication or dose given at the pharmacy)
• The drug was not given following the doctor’s prescription instructions (i.e. drugs to be given on an empty stomach are given with meals)
• The patient was not properly monitored after being given a drug
• A dose is skipped or a dose is doubled up to make up for a missed dose

What factors contribute to medication mistakes in nursing homes?

• Inadequate medical training for nursing home or assisted living employees
• Doctors signing prescriptions for residents they know little about
• Lack of coordination and accurate documentation between staff members caring for the same patient

According to experts the biggest problem in nursing homes that contributes to medical errors is the lack of medical training for staff members. There are five “rights” that nurses and staff should follow every time medication is given to a nursing home or assisted living resident: give the right drug, at the right dose, using the right route, given at the right time, to the right patient.

Are you concerned about the care that your loved one is receiving in a Virginia nursing home or assisted living facility? Do you suspect that facility staff could be guilty of abuse or neglect, especially in regard to something as serious as prescription medication?

Please do not hesitate to get help if you suspect nursing home neglect or abuse. The experienced attorneys at the Norfolk based law firm of Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C. will discuss your concerns for no cost or obligation. You have nothing to lose – please contact their lawyers today.

Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.

112 College Place

Norfolk, VA 23510

Toll Free: (800) 690-0235

Phone: (757) 622-7740

Fax: (757) 533-9223

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