Ten Commandments to Reduce Medication Errors in Pediatrics

1. Thou shalt print legibly or use a computer in writing a prescription.
2. Thou shalt write the weight of the child in your prescription.
3. Thou shalt not use abbreviations for the name of the drug or dose.
4. Thou shalt specify the exact dose of the medication, how, and when it should be given.
5. Thou shalt avoid terminal zeros to the right of the decimal point.
6. Thou shalt use zero to the left of the decimal point if giving less than one milligram.
7. Thou shalt use CPOE in your hospital.
8. Thou shalt use a bar code system to identify patients and their medications.
9. Thou shalt explain to the patient the common and serious side effects of the medication.
10. Thou shalt check what other medications the patient taking including OTC, vitamins, and herbs.

Copyright 2003 Leonardo Leonidas, MD