Assistance should include methods used to increase patient safety by decreasing medication errors through detecting, reporting, analyzing, and correcting errors. Methods should include

double-checking one's own work
having another pharmacy technician double-check work
having a pharmacist double-check work
investigating situations where a medication error is common, such as missing doses; extra doses; look-alike, sound-alike drugs (LASA)
reporting and correcting errors, as needed
analyzing the role of safety organizations in the prevention of errors
defining
- Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP)
- The Joint Commission
- MedWatch
- black box warning
- contraindications
- off-label use
- National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention (NCC MERP)
- Institute of Medicine (IOM)
- Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS)

See ASHP 3.13.

Process/Skill Questions:

What are the characteristics of an effective pharmacy department's approach to preventing medication errors?
What roles do automation and information technology play in preventing drug misadventures?
What are the basic features of some common programs for reporting medication misadventures?
What is SALAD or LASA?
What systems can be implemented to avoid misadventures due to SALAD or LASA?