We hear from clients every month about mis-filled prescriptions and other life-threatening mistakes by their local pharmacies. These serious medical errors are made by pharmacists at the local “mom and pop” drug store but are just as common at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, Eckerd, and on and on…..
A quick search reveals the following information about the frequency and effects of pharmacy errors:
* The Institute of Medicine reports medication errors in hospitals alone costs more than $2 billion annually.
* More than 7,000 patients died from medication mistakes in 1993.
* The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy reports that as many as 5 percent of the 3 billion prescriptions filled each year are incorrect.
My Take: Read your prescription, ask your doctor to verify both the drug and the dosage. Ask the same questions when the prescription is filled by your pharmacist. If you are allergic to any medications, that information should be documented in the medical records of the prescribing doctor and with the pharmacy which provides your medications.