Question

Nearing the end of her 18-hour work shift, a resident sees a patient with extremely high blood glucose levels. She writes the patient a prescription for insulin; however, in her exhaustion, she closes her "U" (for "units"), and it looks more like an extra zero. As a result, the pharmacist dispenses an insulin dose that's ten times stronger than the patient needs.

To prevent this problem from happening again, which of the following would be the best course of action?

A. Require both the resident and the pharmacist to take additional training
B. Punish the resident and the pharmacist for their careless actions
C. Ensure that no prescribing physician is ever tired or distracted
D. Develop a system that prevents messy handwriting from causing miscommunication that leads to error

Answer 1

The best course of action to prevent prescription errors is to develop a system that eliminates miscommunication due to handwriting issues, such as electronic prescription systems. Additionally, biotechnology advancements in producing human insulin have improved diabetes management.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent the problem of miscommunication due to messy handwriting in prescriptions, the best course of action would be to develop a system that prevents such errors. This could involve implementing electronic prescription systems, utilizing computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, or having strict protocols for handwriting clarity and double-checking prescriptions. Punishing healthcare providers is less constructive, and ensuring no one is ever tired is impractical. Additional training for the resident and pharmacist could be part of a comprehensive strategy, but the system change addresses the root cause more effectively.

Regarding the availability of human insulin for diabetic patients, modern biotechnology allows for the production of insulin that is structurally similar to that produced by the human pancreas. This advancement is beneficial compared to animal-derived insulin or earlier methods because it reduces the risk of allergic reactions and other side effects. The recombinant DNA technology used for manufacturing human insulin has significantly improved the safety and effectiveness of diabetes management.