User satisfaction with an intravenous medication safety system

In the United States, 60% of serious and life-threatening medication errors in general inpatients involve i.v. medications.1 A similar percentage (56%) of medication errors involve i.v. medications in a study from the United Kingdom.2 In pediatric patients, 54% of potential adverse drug events due to medication errors involve i.v. medications.3 Although relatively few medications are administered intravenously in the hospital setting, i.v. medications account for the majority of medication errors (in number and in degree of potential harm to patients). One reason for the high rate is the lack of a second check of the bedside personnel administering the medication (and, in some cases, also preparing the medication). In studies dating back to the 1960s, medication errors by personnel administering medications have been well documented. Using a blind observer technique, an error rate of 1 in 6 administrations (16.7%) were documented.4 After eliminating timing errors, the error rate dropped to 1 in 12 administrations (8.3%).