Describe the selected issue. Discuss how it impacts quality of care and patient safety in the setting in which it occurs.

Benchmark effective 1000 words by 02/13/2021

The selected issue is medication errors. Medication errors are an important and serious problem that can have a negative impact on quality of care and patient safety. According to The Joint Commission, medication errors occur in all health care settings-from the hospital to the outpatient clinic to long-term care facilities-and they can result in serious harm or even death for patients. From wrong doses to incorrect medications, incorrect frequency of administration, timing issues, failure to monitor adverse reactions, and many other causes, medication errors can lead to delays in treatment or even more severe consequences such as organ damage or respiratory depression.

In order to ensure that patients receive safe and effective treatments, it is essential for health care providers to strive for accuracy when administering medications. This includes ensuring that the right drug is given at the right dose, at the right time and route of administration (oral/IV), with consideration for potential interactions with other drugs being administered concurrently. Additionally, proper monitoring must take place throughout treatment so any adverse reactions can be quickly identified and addressed. Clear communication between members of a healthcare team is essential – from documenting accurate orders through providing reports about changes in a patient’s condition or reactions after receiving medications – as well as establishing systems meant to catch mistakes before they occur by double checking calculations related to dosages and reviewing current medications prior to prescribing new ones.

When these processes are not followed correctly or when there are gaps between them – either due lapses in clinical practice or lack of communication within a healthcare team – medication errors may occur which can cause significant harm (or worse) for patients. Thus it is critical that healthcare organizations provide training regarding proper practices associated with ordering/dispensing/administering/monitoring medications; implement careful checks along each step of process; promote clear communication among providers; establish protocols intended reduce error rates; monitor performance metrics associated with meds management; identify risks factors for errors within individual departments/units; investigate near misses & close calls thoroughly; follow up on reported incidents appropriately ; provide feedback & education based on lessons learned ; evaluate effectiveness of strategies used over time . These efforts will help ensure that quality patient care is delivered safely across all areas within an organization.