Systematic Steps to Diminish Multi-Fold Medication Errors in Neonates

Tenfold and other multiple-of-dose errors are particularly common in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where the fragility of the patients increases the potential for significant adverse outcomes. Such errors can originate at any of the sequential phases of the process, from medication ordering to administration. Each step of calculation, prescription writing, transcription, dose preparation, and administration is an opportunity for generating and preventing medication errors. A few simple principles and practical tips aimed at avoiding decimal and other multiple-dosing errors can be systematically implemented through the various steps of the process. The authors describe their experience with the implementation of techniques for error reduction in a NICU setting. The techniques described herein rely on simple, inexpensive technologies for information and automation, and on standardization and simplification of processes. They can be immediately adapted and applied in virtually any NICU and could be integrated into the development of computerized order entry systems appropriate to NICU settings. Either way, they should decrease the likelihood of undetected human error.