[Medication errors in a hospital emergency department: study of the current situation and critical points for improving patient safety].

OBJETIVO: Conocer la tasa total de errores de medicacion (EM) y de incidencias en el proceso de utilizacion de los medicamentos en el servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH) de un hospital terciario que se producen e identificar los puntos criticos asociados para implantar medidas de mejora. METODO: Estudio prospectivo por observacion directa para detectar EM entre los meses de junio y julio de 2016. RESULTS: The overall error rate was 23.7%. The most common errors were made while medications were administered (10.9%). We detected 1532 incidents: 53.6% on workdays (P=.001), 43.1% during the afternoon/evening shift (P=.004), and 43.1% in observation areas (P=.004). CONCLUSION: The medication error rate was significant. Most errors and incidents occurred during the afternoon/evening shift and in the observation area. Most errors were related to administration of medications.