Drug Errors Frequent in Long Term Care Facilities

NEW YORK, Feb 24, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Preventable drug injuries happen more frequently in long-term care settings than previously thought, New York researchers report. A survey of two large, long-term care facilities revealed 10 adverse drug events for every 100 patients monthly. The vast majority of the drug errors were not serious but 37 percent were serious or life threatening and four of the 815 incidents documented were fatal. The researchers said 42 percent of all the adverse drug events were preventable as were 61 percent of the serious, life-threatening and fatal adverse events.

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