Most patients in facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes receive medications ordered for them by their attending physician. Taking medications ordered by the doctor is often a key step in the road to recovery for many injured or ill people. However, errors are made too frequently in ordering, preparing, and dispensing medications to patients. For example, doctors may order a medication in a wrong dose or may order a medication which is inappropriate for the patient. Once the order is issued, there is a chance that the nurse or pharmacist preparing the medication for the patient may make a mistake. Finally, nurses are taught to check five things in giving medications to a patient: right patient, right medication, right dose, right method, and right time. Errors in any of those items can result in injury or death to the patient, either from the effect of the medication on the patient or from the patient not receiving the therapeutic benefit from the medication ordered by the doctor.
