Commission Issues Tips on Safe Use of Opioids

An estimated 1.3 million people every year suffer injuries from medication errors. These errors include the wrong dose, the wrong drug, and the wrong route of administration. Administration of the wrong drug accounts for 41 percent, or the highest number, of fatal medication errors.

The Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies health-care organizations, recently issued an alert on the safe use of drugs in American hospitals. The Joint Commission provided tips to promote the mitigation and management of pain.

The Joint Commission advises medical personnel to screen all patients for any respiratory depression risks. This requires continuous clinical monitoring, in which medical personnel can assess respiration rates and determine the depth of sedation. The commission’s alert advises medical personnel against relying purely on pulse oximetry, because of the risk of errors.

The Joint Commission asks medical personnel to assess a patient’s medication history, including any history of the use and abuse of analgesic drugs. The evaluation should include the duration of the earlier drug use and possible side effects, as well as any signs of opioid intolerance.

Medical personnel should also focus on individualizing treatment plans. These plans promote better coordination of care, psychosocial support for patients and better patient behavior.

Some hospitals focus on opioid painkillers to eliminate all traces of pain. But the drugs may not treat many types of pain; hence, hospitals also should focus on the management of pain and not only on its elimination.

If you have suffered an injury as a result of medical negligence, consult a Seattle medical malpractice attorney at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC. Our attorneys are committed to helping injured patients. Contact us today for a free, confidential evaluation of your case.