When one considers the potential for compounding errors to occur when working with thousands of drugs, excipients, products, many different practitioners, and other personnel, along with sophisticated and complex technology (including robotics and automation), and literally thousands of different ways to compound medications, it is phenomenal that the number of errors occurring in compounding is so small. Obviously, any error is significant, as it may result in patient harm or even death. So, "Is there any way to totally eliminate errors or mistakes in compounding?" Total elimination of errors may not be possible, but it should be our goal, and we can definitely minimize their occurrence.

Over the next several weeks, we will begin looking at errors in general and then narrow our focus to categories of errors, their description, their causes, and their approaches to prevention.

Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding
Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy Twenty-second edition

Did You Know (On Errors/Mistakes)...

...that a certain fraternal society sent out announcements that the annual "'instillation' would be held"? It caused a great deal of excitement! Of course they meant "installation." One letter makes a difference. For examples, there was a man who wrote a letter addressed "Dear 'Fiends,'" having omitted the "r", and there was a newspaper that wrote of the "'bottle'-scarred veterans who marched in the parade." This was almost as bad as the other paper which wrote of the "battle-'scared' veterans!".

Thought of the Week (On Errors/Mistakes)

"Error in judgment: thinking you have an open mind when it's just vacant!" (Anon)

"One who never makes mistakes does not usually make anything." (Edward J. Phelps)

Dental Patient: "Hey, that isn't the tooth I wanted pulled!"
Dentist: "Calm yourself, I'm coming to it!"