"Cohen’s book better describes specific medication errors and how to prevent them. The centerpiece is an excellent chapter on 'high-alert medications,' which Cohen defines as drugs with a high risk of causing patient injury or death if they are misused; the chapter includes a comprehensive table of safety measures for various drug classes."

—New England Journal of Medicine
August 9, 2007

"This book is unique in the field. It should be a mandatory read for all pharmacy students and is certainly a valuable addition to any academic, industrial, or personal library."
—Thomas Jacobsen, PharmD
GlaxoSmithKline

Doody's Book Review Service Rating: * * * * *

Medication Errors is the most comprehensive, authoritative examination of the causes of and means to preventing medication errors in print. It helps readers understand the system-based causes of medication errors, including pharmaceutical trademarks, drug packaging and labeling, and error-prone abbreviations and dose expressions, as well as the patient’s role in preventing medication errors. The book also examines preventing medication errors in relation to specific medications, patients, and conditions; reducing risk and creating a just culture of safety through medication error reporting systems; disclosing medication errors to patients; conducting risk analysis and treatment; and following the clinical bioethics of safe medication practices.

Table of Contents
• Part I. Preparing for Action
– Systems Analysis and Redesign: The Foundation of Medical Error Prevention
– Research on Errors in Dispensing and Medication Administration
– Health Care Providers’ Experiences with Making Fatal Medication Errors
• Part II. Understanding the Causes of Medication Errors
– Causes of Medication Errors
– Root Cause Analysis of Medication Errors
– The Role of Drug Names in Medication Errors
– The Role of Drug Packaging and Labeling in Medication Errors
– Error-Prone Abbreviations and Dose Expressions
• Part III. Preventing Medication Errors: A Shared Responsibility
– Preventing Prescribing Errors
– Preventing Dispensing Errors
– Preventing Drug Administration Errors
– Preventing Medication Errors Related to Drug Delivery Devices
– The Patient’s Role in Preventing Medication Errors
• Part IV. Preventing Medication Errors: Specific Medications, Patients, and Conditions
– High-Alert Medications: Safeguarding Against Errors
– Using Technology to Prevent Medication Errors
– Preventing Medication Errors in Cancer Chemotherapy
– Preventing Medication Errors in Pediatric and Neonatal Patients
– Preventing Medication Errors with Immunologic Drugs
• Part V. Reducing Risks and Creating a Just Culture of Safety
– Medication Error Reporting Systems
– Disclosing Medication Errors to Patients and Families
– Health Care Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
– The Clinical Bioethics of Safe Medication Practices
– Managing Medication Risks Thro