Medication Errors Versus Time of Admission in a Subpopulation of Stroke Patients Undergoing Inpatient Rehabilitation: Complications and Considerations

Abstract

Purpose: This study looked at the medication ordering error frequency and the length of inpatient hospital stay in a subpopulation of stroke patients (n=60) as a function of time of patient admission to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital service. Method: A total of 60 inpatient rehabilitation patients, 30 arriving before 4 PM, and 30 arriving after 4 PM, with an admitting diagnosis of stroke were randomly selected from a larger sample (N=426). Results: There was a statistically significant increase in medication ordering errors and the number of inpatient rehabilitation hospital days in the group of patients who arrived after 4 PM.

Keywords:

• arrival
• hospital stay
• medication errors
• stroke