One of the reason medication related deaths occur are due to medication errors (Karen, 2011, p. 1). In fact, within the United States, approximately 7,000 people die each year due to medication errors (Karen, 2011, p. 1). According to Karen (2011) 1.3 million medication errors occur yearly, which relates to several injuries and approximately one death a day related to medication errors in the Unites States (Karen, 2011, p. 1). One major cause of medication errors can be explained using the medication administration process (Mccomas, 2014, p.590). When a health care provider is responsible to administer a medication, there are approximately 50 to 100 steps involved in this process …show more content…
589). The purpose of this paper is to review and summarize current literature in order to critique and identify the use of eMAR as it pertains to patient safety in addition, identify areas of …show more content…
Medication error can be defined as an unintended action that results in a harmful undesired outcome (Karen, 2011, p. 1). According to Choo (2013) medication error is described as a preventable action that causes harm and does not achieve the desired medication administration outcome (p. 245). Both definitions identify the intention of medication error to be an action that is done unconsciously, as a result the action has a negative aftereffect. Medication errors can occur at any stage from prescribing of medication to administering the medication (Choo, 2013, p. 245). Not only may the medication error generate an unintended result, it can also lead to death of the patient and other further life changing complications. For example, the author Choo (2013) provides an example of a medication error of the drug protisn, a drug used to induce labor being given to a pregnant woman who it was not intended for. This medication error lead to the premature labor and the death of her twins due to premature birth (Karen, 2011, p. 2). This one example is one of many reasons why medication error needs to be reduced or obsolete. According to Paoletti (2007) 34% of medication errors are preventable; the use of eMAR can help to increase the patient