Critical care patients at risk for serious errors

AORN Journal,  Oct, 2005  

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Patients face a significant risk for preventable adverse events and serious medical errors in hospital critical care units, according to an Aug 8, 2005, news release from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Researchers studying critical care safety conducted direct observations in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and a coronary critical care unit (CCU) at an academic hospital during nine three-week periods between July 2002 and June 2003. Observations were supplemented by confidential incident reporting, a computerized adverse drug event detection monitor, and chart reviews.

Researchers found that more than 20% of the patients admitted to the MICU and CCU experienced an adverse event. Nearly haft (ie, 45%) of the adverse events in the sample were preventable, and a significant number involved medications, most commonly the wrong dose. More than 90% of all incidents occurred during routine care, rather than on admission or during an emergency intervention.

ICU Patients at Significant Risk for Adverse Events and Serious Errors (news release, Rockville, Md: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Aug 8, 2005) http:// www.ahrq.gov/news/press/pr2005/icuerrpr.htm (accessed 9 Aug 2005).

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