3.1 Medication Error
Medication error is defined according to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP) as “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer. Such events may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing, order communication, product labeling, packaging, and nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use.”
3.1.1 Actual error
Medication error occurred and reached the patient. If the error is detected by the patient, it is considered as actual error
3.1.2 Near miss
Medication error that has the potential to cause an adverse event (patient harm) but did not reach the patient because of chance or because it is intercepted in the medication use process.
If the healthcare professionals detected and corrected the error BEFORE it reaches the patient, it is considered as near miss.
3.2 Harm
Impairment of the physical, emotional, or psychological function or structure of the body and/or pain resulting therefrom.
3.3 Monitoring
To observe or record relevant physiological or psychological signs.
3.4 Intervention
Intervention May include change in therapy or active medical/surgical treatment.
3.5 Intervention Necessary to Sustain Life
Includes cardiovascular and respiratory support (e.g., CPR, defibrillation, intubation, etc.)