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Medication Safety
Our Medication Safety Measures
Your Mount Auburn Hospital care team is dedicated to preventing medication errors. Learn about what we’re doing to promote medication safety every day.
Medication safety begins with ensuring you receive the right prescription at the right dose. That’s why Mount Auburn Hospital uses an innovative computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system that automatically checks for errors or potential problems with prescriptions.
The CPOE system:
- Warns against prescriptions that might trigger an allergic reaction, overdose or interaction with another medication.
- Displays accurate information about available new medications.
- Offers drug-specific information that eliminates confusion regarding medication names that sound alike.
Benefits of CPOE
CPOE systems can:
- Improve communication between doctors and a pharmacy
- Lower costs due to increased efficiency
- Reduce length of hospital stays
- Decrease the need for repeat tests
- Shorten turnaround times for lab, pharmacy and radiology requests
Meeting High Standards
Mount Auburn Hospital fully meets the CPOE standards set by The Leapfrog Group, a promoter of high-value healthcare. That means Mount Auburn Hospital:
- Enters at least 75 percent of inpatient medication orders through a CPOE system.
- Has shown the system can alert doctors to at least 50 percent of common, serious prescribing errors.
How to Take Medicine Safely
Medication safety means taking the right medication, at the right time, in the right way. You can help ensure that your prescription drugs are safe and will help improve your condition by working with your care team to take medicines correctly.
At the Pharmacy
When you’re at the pharmacy, take the following steps to ensure you’re putting your medication safety first:
- Use the same pharmacy for every prescription.
- Tell your pharmacist about any drug allergies you have and provide a list of all medications (prescription and over-the-counter), vitamins and natural remedies you take.
- Read the label on your prescription to make sure the instructions and dosage are the same as your doctor ordered.
- Ask for written information about each prescription.
At Home
Medication safety is especially important when you’re at home. The following steps can help you ensure your safety when there isn’t a medical professional present:
- Keep medications in their original packages. Store them in a cool, dry place out of the reach of children.
- Take medicines only as prescribed.
- Be aware of potential side effects or bad reactions, such as nausea, that may be caused by your medications. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t feel well.
- Request refills a few days before you run out so you don’t miss a dose.
- Maintain an up-to-date list of your medications. Keep copies at home and in your wallet or on your smartphone. Consider giving a copy to a family member or close friend. Use our Health Record Card [PDF] to help you organize and record your information.
At Doctor's Office or Hospital
Talk with your doctor about each medication he or she prescribes. Make sure you know:
- Why you’re taking it
- How to take it
- How much to take
- How long to take it
- What to do if you forget a dose
- What side effects to watch for and what to do if they occur
Tell your providers about all the medications you take, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins and natural remedies, such as herbal products. When you’re in the hospital, tell your nurse if you think you’re not getting medication on time or if you think you’re getting the wrong pill.
Get Started
Take the first step on your journey toward better health.
