Transcript

20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children

NARRATOR:
Medical errors, one of the leading causes of death and injury in the United States, don't just affect adults. Problems with medicines, for example, occur three times as often in children as in adults, and the rates are even higher for babies in the hospital. Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, has some practical tips for parents...

CLANCY:
Parents-whether you're at the doctor's office, pharmacy, or hospital, your role in preventing medication errors in your children is essential. Make sure you understand what the doctor is prescribing and why. Ask how much medicine your child should take, how often she should take it, and if there are any side effects to watch for. When you pick up the prescription at the pharmacy, double check that you have the correct drug and the correct amount. These simple steps can prevent big problems.

NARRATOR:
These tips and more are in a new fact sheet from AHRQ and the American Academy of Pediatrics called 20Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children. For your free copy, call 1-800-3-5-8-9-2-9-5. That's 1-800-3-5-8-9-2-9-5. I’m Bob Tebo for the Consumer Radio Network.