Medication errors in the ambulatory elderly

Abstract

Medication error is a common health problem that occurs in our healthcare systems on a yearly basis. Older adults are at an increased risk for medication errors due to increased numbers of medications needed to treat multiple chronic conditions. Medication errors in the elderly can occur at various stages of the medication use process, including prescribing, transcription, dispensing, adherence, monitoring and transitions of care. Studies in the elderly population over the last 20 years have helped to identify possible reasons why and where these errors occur at the various stages of the medication use process. Although these studies have offered possible ways to manage medication errors in the elderly patient, future research is still needed to develop better ways of identifying, educating and managing medication errors in the future, especially through technological means.