The average nursing home resident takes eight medications daily, some of which need to be taken multiple times a day at specific intervals.
Sadly, medication errors are common in nursing home settings. According to the National Library of Medicine, medication errors are the most frequent and avoidable source of patient harm.
These errors can have life-threatening consequences. Residential care facilities have a duty to prevent harm to their residents.
Nursing home administrators and staff must be vigilant to keep residents safe and ensure patients receive the medication they are prescribed in the manner ordered.
Common Causes of Nursing Home Medication Errors
Medication errors happen for numerous reasons. Some of the most common causes include:
- Understaffed facilities. When a facility has insufficient staff to meet the needs of its residents, medication errors are much more likely.
- Fatigue. Nursing home staff often work 12-hour shifts that are physically and emotionally draining. When staffers become fatigued, they are more likely to make a mistake in dispensing medication.
- Inexperience. Nursing home staffers with little experience and training are more likely to make errors.
- Poor communication with residents. When nursing home staffers fail to interact and communicate with residents or are not fluent in the residents’ language, mistakes can happen more easily.
- Inadequate labeling. If medication is not properly labeled and packaged, medication errors are bound to happen.
- Distractions and interruptions. When a staffer is about to administer medication but is interrupted and called away, they may forget what medication they have already administered.
Understanding the causes of medication errors is critical to preventing harm to nursing home residents.
Common Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Medication Errors
Medication errors can result in injuries ranging from mild to life-threatening. Common injuries caused by nursing home medication errors include:
- Adverse drug reactions.
- Worsening the resident’s condition requiring hospitalization.
- Emotional distress.
- Falls caused by medication errors that make a resident dizzy or drowsy or cause their blood pressure to fall.
- Death can result from a resident missing their medication or being given a medication contraindicated for their condition.
Common Signs of Nursing Home Medication Errors
Medication errors may not always be immediately apparent. Some signs of nursing home medication errors may include unexplained changes in behavior or health conditions, new side effects, and frequent unexplainable trips to the hospital.
Other signs of medication errors may include medication changes without explanation, inconsistent documentation and records, and missing medications or medication containers.
If you are concerned about medication errors, speak up. Ask the staffers and administrators to explain anything that seems unusual.
Recoverable Damages for Nursing Home Medication Errors
The damages you can recover depend on the facts of your case. However, you may be able to recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If your loved one died as a result of nursing home medication errors, you may have the right to file a wrongful death action and recover damages.
What To Do If You Suspect A Nursing Home Medication Error
If you suspect or know that you or your loved one is a victim of a nursing home medication error, you should take prompt action. Taking the following steps can help protect your health and your rights:
- If you were given the wrong medication, get immediate medical attention. Immediately inform the nursing home staff and request a physician’s evaluation. If your symptoms are severe, call 911.
- File a formal complaint with the nursing home.
- Report the incident to the Georgia Department of Community Health by calling 1-800-878-6442 or completing the form on their Health Care Facility Regulation Complaint Intake page.
- Collect evidence to support your claim. Document signs of a medication error, photograph visible injuries, keep a journal of symptoms and communications with staff and administrators, and request copies of all medical records, including medication logs.
- Contact an experienced nursing home medication errors attorney.
Consult an Experienced Nursing Home Medication Errors Attorney
At Julie A. Rice, Attorney at Law, & Affiliates, our attorneys have been protecting the rights of injury victims for over thirty years. We have the experience, skills, and resources to hold nursing homes accountable for the injuries they cause.
If you or a loved one have suffered because of a nursing home medication error, let us help you. Call (770) 865-8654 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.