Pediatric Medication Safety in the Emergency Department ENA/AAP/ACEP Policy Statement-Pediatric Medication Safety in the Emergency Department ENA/AAP/ACEP Policy Statement

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Pediatric patients treated in emergency departments are at high risk for medication errors. To address this issue, a multidisciplinary panel convened to discuss opportunities to improve medication safety in the ED. Some of the key opportunities identified include using weight-based dosing, optimizing computerized physician order entry with clinical decision support, developing a standard formulary for pediatric patients, involving pharmacists in the ED, enhancing training of medical professionals, systematizing medication dispensing and administration, and addressing challenges with home medication administration before discharge. Medication errors are the most common type of medical error in hospitalized patients, and pediatric patients have been found to have a higher medication error rate compared to adults. The pediatric emergency care setting is particularly susceptible to medication errors due to factors such as medically complex patients, lack of standard pediatric dosing, and frequent interruptions. Implementing strategies to improve medication safety is crucial in providing quality care to children. The panel recommended creating a standard formulary for high-risk medications, standardizing dosage concentrations, using pharmacists in the ED, developing a dedicated pediatric medication safety curriculum, and implementing standardized delivery devices for home medication administration. These recommendations aim to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety in pediatric emergency care.

Meta Tag

medication children

medication infants

medication adolescents

medication error

medication injury prevention

medication prescribe

medication prescription

medication weight

Keywords

pediatric patients

medication errors

emergency departments

medication safety

weight-based dosing

computerized physician order entry

standard formulary

pharmacists in the ED

medication administration

patient safety