Sound-Alike Drug Names Produce Risk of Medication Interchange Errors

Abstract

Due to the risk of medications errors from inadvertent interchange of drugs for which names look alike or sound alike, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations now requires that accredited health care organizations develop and maintain programs to minimize these risks. This report lists drug names that can lead to such errors.

Key Words:

• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• JCAHO
• drug names
• National patient Safety Goal