Date of Award
Summer 8-25-2025
Document Type
Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscript
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Kathy Klimpel, Ph.D., CNS, ACHIP
Abstract
Abstract
Medication Safety: A Policy Journey to Reduce Medication Errors
Background: Medication errors have long been a significant concern. Unsafe medication practices and errors can pose serious risks of injury and preventable harm within healthcare systems.
These errors can lead to severe consequences and have the potential to result in injury, disability, or even death. The World Health Organization highlights that in the United States, an estimated 1.3 million people experience medication-related harm, with 7,000-9,000 people dying due to a medication error each year (WHO, 2023). On average, one adverse drug effect (ADE) adds more than $2,000 to the cost of a hospital, which translates to $7.5 billion per year nationwide in hospital costs, not including other important costs such as malpractice insurance premiums and losses in worker productivity (Leapfrog Group, 2023). Despite extensive efforts to improve medication safety, challenges on this topic persist for many healthcare professionals and institutions.
Purpose of Project: This policy manuscript aims to reduce medication errors, which affect a considerable number of Americans who fall victim to a flaw in the medication process. Engaging in analyzing, re-building, modifying, or updating said process can help save patients’ lives as well as yield substantial financial savings that could potentially amount to billions of US Dollars.
Methods: The RE-AIM framework was utilized to outline the necessary improvements in medication administration for the purpose of reducing medication errors and improving patient outcomes. Research articles were compiled, sorted, and reviewed between August 2024 and 2025.
Evidence Intervention: Without negating or minimizing the remarkable progression from past legislative actions and efforts by various organizations, healthcare systems, and healthcare professionals, one must also consider ways to maintain and improve our healthcare system to maximize patient-centered care and, above all, safety. Consequently, this policy manuscript recommends that legislative action be taken and firm reminders be given to all California hospitals and healthcare organizations to build, modify, update, or revisit effective pathways and strategies to minimize medication errors.
Evaluation/Results: This project included implementing protocol improvements and establishing short-term, medium-term, and long-term policy goals that can significantly impact an entire group of individuals within an organization.
Implications for Practice: These initiatives involve the implementation and improvement of existing policies that allow for safe medication reconciliation at various stages of the medication process. This can help minimize medication errors, improve patient safety, and save numerous lives.
Conclusion: Despite the dedicated efforts of various organizations, institutions, and government agencies, medication errors continue to adversely affect healthcare systems worldwide. Therefore, it is vital to continue working hard to improve the medication safety process. Ushering change and cultivating improvement efforts can drive organizations to a safer area of medication processes. Keywords: Medication errors, medication safety, medication reconciliation, safe medication practices.
Digital USD Citation
Campos, Elia M.; Klimpel, Kathleen; and Burkhard, Joseph, "Medication Safety: A Policy Journey to Reduce Medication Errors" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts. 319.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/dnp/319
Copyright
Copyright held by the author