Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Preventing medication errors in long-term care facilities

2^nd International Conference on Geriatrics & Gerontology

August 24-26, 2015 Toronto, Canada

Ilene Warner-Maron

Institute for Continuing Education and Research, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Gerontol Geriat Res

Abstract:

Medication errors are frequent occurrences in hospitals and long-term care settings estimated in one out of every five doses administered in an institutional setting. Issues of medication errors have been highlighted and studied since the Institute of Medicine�??s 1999 report �??To Err is Human�?� was released however medication administration has become increasingly complex and prone to errors despite advances in the electronic medical record and automated dispensing systems. Errors frequently include administration failures (wrong dose, drug, time, route and patient); pharmacy dispensing and delivery issues; technique errors and monitoring problems. A review of citations for medical errors by the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2009-2012 has identified specific categories of errors in medication administration. This presentation will use a systems approach to address the patterns of deficiencies and offer recommendations to decrease errors in all areas of identified deficient practice.

Biography :

Ilene Warner-Maron completed her PhD in health policy in 2007 at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, where her dissertation focused on HIV and aging. She holds Masters Degree in Gerontology from the University of Pennsylvania (1985), Health Care Administration from St. Joseph’s University (1989) and Law and Social Policy from Bryn Mawr College (1995) and Bachelors in Sociology from Philadelphia University (1983) and a Diploma in Nursing from the Albert Einstein Medical Center School of Nursing in 1980. She is the President of the Institute for Continuing Education and Research, a federal monitor of nursing homes in the US, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association and a Fellow in the College of Physicians in Philadelphia.

Email: aldengeriatrics@gmail.com