Polypharmacy and medication errors: Stop, Listen, Look, and Analyze..

Polypharmacy and adverse drug events (ADE) continue to be difficult problems in modern healthcare despite continuing efforts to reduce their occurrence. The incidence of polypharmacy is increasing dramatically in the geriatric population, especially when considering that this 15% segment of the United States population accounts for nearly one third of all prescription medications. Increased incidence of adverse drug events has been associated with a variety of healthcare environments, including the intensive care unit (ICU) and various emergency settings (i.e., acute care surgery, emergency rooms, trauma care). This article reviews the incidence, etiologic factors, and potential solutions toward reducing both polypharmacy and ADE. Cite as: Stawicki SP. Polypharmacy and medication errors: Stop, listen, look, and analyze... OPUS 12 Scientist 2009;3(1):6-10. Correspondence to: S. P. Stawicki, MD. Department of Surgery, Division of Critical Care, Trauma, and Burn, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Suite 634, 395 West 12 Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210 USA. Email: [email protected]