Medication Errors in Michigan Nursing Home| Lack of Patient Care

Medication errors are all too common within nursing homes and long-term care facilities.  These medication errors are not only serious, but can be deadly. One of the main reasons this may happen is because nursing homes that are not properly staffed may have nurses administering medication with carelessness.

A recent study was conducted to determine the factors that contribute to repeat medication errors and the association between medication errors and patient harm.  Medication error reports submitted by licensed nursing homes to North Carolina’s Medication Error Quality Initiative-Individual Error Web-based incident reporting system were analyzed for fiscal years 2006-2008. Each site was asked to report whether the event was identically repeated within the same patient.

The repeated errors and non-repeated errors were compared at the conclusion of the study.  As a result, out of 15,037 medication errors reported, 5,615 (37.3%) were repeated one or more times.  The most common medication error was determined to be wrong administration.  Weather a medication error is a repeated or non-repeated error; it is serious and completely preventable.

If you suspect your loved one is not being properly taken care of by the nursing home they reside in, and the nursing home staff has made a medication error, a Michigan nursing home neglect lawsuit may be sought.

In the nursing home setting, some of the more common medication errors include:

• Failure to Consider Adverse Side Effects of Drugs
• Administering The Incorrect Prescription
• Incorrect Medication Dosage
• Adverse Drug Interactions:
  • There are three main types of drug interactions:
  • Liability for Medication Errors
  • Overmedicating

• Drugs with food and beverages
• Drugs with dietary supplements
• Drugs with other drugs

Warning Signs Of Medication Errors in Michigan Nursing Home

If your loved one’s health or behavior changes unpredictably, if he or she starts developing unusual physical symptoms, or if he or she grows more lethargic or confused, medication-related abuse may be at fault. If at all possible, visit the nursing home when medications are dispensed to see whether care is taken to ensure that the correct drugs and dosages are given to patients. Ask to see a log of the drugs given to your loved one. And if you do suspect that your loved one has been improperly medicated, ask a doctor to run tests.

Contact Your Michigan Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

Our experienced Michigan nursing home neglect attorneys handle cases against facilities for medication errors on behalf of injured resident.  For more information on your legal rights after medication errors in Michigan nursing home, call our experienced expert attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. now at (800) 606-1717.  We will represent you and your family in your medication error case under our No Fee Promise, which means no legal fees or costs until we prove and win your case.