Lady Netizen Reminds Fellow Healthcare Workers to Double-Check Medication Instruction
A lady netizen shared a reminder for her fellow healthcare workers after a pharmacist misinterpreted a doctor’s prescription.
Recently, Clyde Glyndel, a Facebook user shared an important reminder for fellow healthcare workers, especially pharmacists, after a mistake in interpreting a doctor’s prescription led to a serious incident.
In her post, Glyndel emphasized the need for pharmacists and their staff to double-check medication instructions, particularly for pediatric patients.
The lady netizen recounted an incident involving a 7-year-old patient who suffered from severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Upon reviewing the child’s medical history, she discovered that the child had finished an entire 70 mL bottle of Co-amoxiclav in just three days.
The issue stemmed from a misinterpretation of the doctor’s prescription. While the doctor’s handwriting was clear, it was small and difficult for the patient’s grandmother to read. To ensure proper administration, the grandmother asked a pharmacy staff member to rewrite the instructions on the medication box.
Unfortunately, the staff mistakenly wrote “every 3 hours” instead of the correct dosage of “every 12 hours.” This led to the child consuming an excessive amount of antibiotics in a short period.
Clyde clarified that her intention was not to criticize but to remind pharmacists of the important role they play in patient care. Ensuring accurate medication instructions can prevent serious health risks and improve patient safety.
The woman encouraged pharmacy staff to be extra cautious when handling prescriptions, as even small errors can have serious consequences.
Here is the full post:
“This is a gentle reminder to our fellow healthcare workers, particularly the pharmacists who own pharmacies here in Agusan. I know it can be challenging to manage your own pharmacies, which is why some of you hire additional staff to assist patients. However, when writing instructions on medication boxes, especially for pediatric patients, please double-check what your staff has written.
Today, I had a 7-year-old patient who came in with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. After history taking, I found out that the child had finished one full bottle (70 mL) of Co-amoxiclav in just 3 days. Upon reviewing the prescription, the doctor’s handwriting was legible, although it was quite small and difficult for the patient’s grandmother to read. As the grandma is of advanced age, she asked the staff to rewrite the instructions on the box so she could remember how to administer the medication. Unfortunately, the staff misread the prescription and mistakenly wrote “every 3 hours” instead of “every 12 hours.” And so this happened.
This is not to criticize, but simply a reminder to always carefully verify the instructions you relay to patients. Your role is as important as ours, and we rely on your help in reinforcing proper pharmacologic treatments to ensure the best care for our patients.
Mao lang to ug daghang salamat sa pagsabot.”
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
