Error rate highest in hospital radiology departments

New research finds that serious medication errors are more likely in hospital radiology departments than in any other hospital setting. The study, which was released today by United States Pharmacopeia, concludes that errors that lead to patient harm are seven times more common in radiology than in other departments. A number of factors are said to contribute to the higher rate of risk. For instance, patients often receive dangerous drugs, dyes and blood thinners. Radiology departments are also high traffic areas with patients arriving from all areas of the hospital, a factor that greatly increases the risk of a dangerous miscommunication.

"I don't think anyone really recognized how much of a problem this really is," said Michael Cohen, president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, PA. "Every hospital in the United States ought to be taking a look at this. This is important." Cynics may note that the radiology department also contains the highest paid physicians.

- read this article from The Washington Post

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