Medications- cause or solution for medical emergency team response?

Abstract

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To explore if medication-related incidents either precipitate or occur during a medical emergency team (MET) response. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was used for this project. A retrospective audit of the in-house MET database and patient safety reporting system was reviewed for all suspected medication-related incidents between January until December 2018. A prospective observational realtime audit was conducted on medications administered at a MET between March until June 2019. A descriptive analysis was performed with results presented as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: Twenty-four (9%) of the 279 MET responses had medication related precipitants primarily pegasparginase anaphylaxis and opioid related respiratory compromise. One hundred and forty-two (51%) responses required medication(s) during the response categorised into: fluid boluses 27%: neurological and psychotropic 18%; vasopressor agents 13%; antibiotics 4%; analgesics 12%; respiratory agents 10%, endocrine 5%, immunomodulators 5% and miscellaneous drugs 6% (includes intubation medications). Only one medication error was identified during a MET response, although incomplete documentation of administered medications occurred in 26% of the 142 MET responses. Eleven MET responses were observed in the real-time audit. Only four (36%) required medications. No medication errors observed, however challenges in the communication around administration of medications were evident in three of these responses. CONCLUSIONS: Medication identified precipitants for MET responses were low. Medication administration occurred in 50% of all MET responses with a small proportion having incomplete medication administration documentation. No medication related incidents were observed during the real time audit, however communication around the administration of medications requires improvement.L6347726942021-04-21 <br />