This Might Hurt A Little! Certa Looks To Reduce Deaths from Pediatric Medication Errors | Healthcare Packaging

Founded by an emergency room doctor, colour-coordinated syringes and syringe holders provide a simple method to measure and confirm the correct dose.

This is a shocking statistic in that each year over 140,000 children are harmed due to dosing mistakes by healthcare professionals. Over 7,000 die due to this tragic error.

Caleb Hernandez is an ER doctor that wants to make correct doses easy to determine for doctors and healthcare workers. Most importantly in high-stress situations where children’s lives are on the line.

Certa Dose is the brainchild of Dr Hernandez. Certa has innovated a colour-coordinated syringe which provides a simple method for determining correct dosage to infants or children.

It shows the medication by weight making it clear to whoever is administering the medicine. It’s fast, safe and accurate and does expose the professional to the usual dosing risks.

The first product is a syringe which has already been approved by the FDA.

Its specifically for epinephrine delivery for paediatric patients, Certa is currently seeking FDA clearance on other variants of the syringe. The other syringes in the range focus on anaesthesia and pain killer type drugs.

Ways to Reduce Paediatric Medication Errors

In healthcare, ensuring the safety of paediatric patients is an obligation. Overstatement is a no-no. A substantial threat to their well-being comes in the form of medication errors. Thus, it is the responsibility of healthcare organisations to minimise these risks. What comprehensive strategies should they adopt?

Tailored Paediatric Guidelines
Paediatric medication safety starts with the creation and implementation of customised paediatric guidelines. These guidelines should not be a mere adaptation of adult protocols. They must be unique and cater to the specific needs of paediatric patients. The guidelines should encompass all aspects of pediatric healthcare. These are medication prescription, dosing, administration, and monitoring, paying meticulous attention to age-appropriate dosing and safety considerations.

Medication Safety Odyssey
Pediatric medication safety includes the establishment of comprehensive medication safety programs. These programs should be holistic, covering every facet of medication safety. To ensure the success of these programs, there are some proactive measures. One, healthcare organisations must invest in training and education initiatives for healthcare providers. These initiatives must go beyond the basics. They must delve into advanced topics. These topics may include age-appropriate dosing and weight-based calculations. It should also involve recognising nuanced medication errors and honing the art of communication with pediatric patients and their families. Continuous learning and an unwavering commitment to excellence are important.

Technological Touchpoints
The infusion of technology into pediatric medication safety is akin to a dose of innovation. Healthcare organisations should harness the power of digitalisation such as:

• electronic prescribing systems,
• computerised physician order entry
• barcode scanning
• electronic medication administration record systems, and
•  cutting-edge incident reporting software.

The integration of these technologies can serve as a much-needed safety net. It reduces the potential for medication errors caused by illegible handwriting. It prevents erroneous dosing calculations. Lastly, it ensures an impeccable medication tracking and reconciliation process.

Reconciling with Precision
For healthcare organisations, the name of the game is meticulous medication reconciliation. The onus lies on the shoulders of healthcare providers. These providers should maintain accurate and up-to-date medication lists for each pediatric patient. The process involves the intricate cross-referencing of medications. With this extra step, healthcare providers can flag any discrepancies or interactions that may arise. The attention to detail and commitment to reconciliation can be the fine line that separates safety from harm.

Fostering a Culture of Learning
No pediatric medication safety program can be effective without learning from mistakes. Healthcare providers must not be shackled by the fear of punitive measures when reporting errors and near misses. It is essential to create a nurturing environment. In this environment, reported incidents are dissected with precision. The root causes are identified, and strategies are formulated to prevent recurrences. The power of continuous learning is unparalleled when reducing pediatric medication errors.

Empowering Patients and Families
The involvement of patients and their families in the medication management process is an indispensable aspect of paediatric medication safety. A vital part of this empowerment is that the patient and their families understand what's going on. This would include explaining medications, dosages, and administration. Side effects should also be discussed. This knowledge empowers them to actively participate in the medication experience. Thus, it facilitates better adherence. Also, it enables the swift recognition and reporting of unexpected effects.

Continuous Quality Advancements
Paediatric medication safety hinges on the commitment to quality. Regular audits, performance evaluations, and quality improvement initiatives act as the compass. These will guide healthcare organisations toward excellence. Monitoring medication-related indicators and outcomes is the litmus test for tracking progress. It will enable organisations to make data-driven changes.

Conclusion

The safety of paediatric patients is important. Medication errors pose a grave threat. But, innovative and distinctive strategies reduce these errors. Moreover, tailored paediatric guidelines, comprehensive medication safety programs, technological prowess, and continuous quality enhancements all play their part.

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