Sentinel Events and Contemporary Medical Practices

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study is to examine the nature of medication errors in the retail pharmaceutical context and the factors that contribute to these errors. The population of study will be the current staff of retail pharmaceutical organizations in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area. The study will target 100 Pharmacists from CVS Pharmacy and Wal-Mart Pharmacy. Pharmacists will be interviewed at appropriate times, and the researcher will seek to gain more understanding of the types of medication errors registered in their organization, the seriousness of the errors, and the factors contributing to these errors. The data will also include organizational records and observation of the medication dispensing and management practices at the retail pharmaceutical industry. The implication for social change includes the potential to provide leaders in the retail pharmaceutical industry with information that will help them address the issue of medication errors. This qualitative descriptive case study seeks to investigate the problem by exploring the nature of medication errors in the retail pharmaceutical context and associated factors. The study will focus on a population drawn from the current staff of retail pharmaceutical organizations in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area. Findings of the study will help leaders in the retail pharmaceutical industry to address the issue of medication errors. The study will also advance research on the subject of medication safety by identifying new areas for future research.