Fact Sheet Gives Tips on Preventing Medical Errors in Children
April 29, 2010 – The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the health services research arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has as one of its goals reducing medical errors.
One of its numerous publications is a fact sheet entitled 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children, which is available in pdf form by clicking here.
| Transfusion Quiz True or False. A transfusion reaction always occurs within 24 hours of a transfusion.
Answer: False. The most common type of immunologic reaction to red cells can possibly occur as much as two weeks after a transfusion, as red cells begin breaking apart. Click here to download our Transfusion Issues in Thalassemia brochure. |
The fact sheet notes that the rate for potential adverse drug events is three times higher in children than in adults. There are numerous reasons for medical errors, but a frequent cause is lack of efficient communication between medical personnel and parents. This publication lists 20 steps that can be taken to ensure a better flow of information between these parties.
The AHRQ website (www.ahrq.gov) has information on many other topics that may be of interest to the thalassemia community.