When a medication error occurs, what is the correct procedure?

When a medication error occurs, the correct procedure is to report the incident to the regional center as a Special Incident. This is crucial because medication errors can have serious implications for the health and safety of individuals receiving care. Reporting the incident to the regional center allows for proper documentation, oversight, and any necessary follow-up actions to ensure the safety of the individual affected and to prevent recurrence in the future.

In addition to the importance of reporting, this procedure highlights the accountability and transparency needed in healthcare environments. By involving the regional center, it ensures that there is a systematic approach to handling medication errors, which is essential for maintaining quality care standards.

Reporting to the regional center, in this case, is not contingent upon the severity of the error, but rather a standard protocol designed to safeguard individuals' well-being. This response mechanism promotes a culture of safety, allowing organizations to learn from errors and improve their medication administration processes.

The options that suggest only reporting if the error is life-threatening, needing simultaneous notification of emergency services, or leaving the decision to the facility administrator do not align with the best practices for medication error reporting and could compromise the care and safety of individuals.