The risk of medication errors in residential care centres continues to rise, according to the Flemish Care Inspectorate’s annual report. The inspectorate attributes the problem to a shortage in healthcare staff.
The organisation studied the medication policy of 255 care centres, looking at procedures and safety steps such as recording, storing and properly labelling medication.
“In the majority of residential care homes, things are going very well and the medication policy works brilliantly,” says Johan Staes, CEO of Vlozo, the sector federation of private care providers.
However, the study shows shortcomings in a number of areas, such as the registration of administered medication. Care staff should properly note the dose and time of day medication is given to residents but this is not done correctly in 43 per cent of care centres. Insulin in particular often lacks registration.
The shortage is filled by using temporary workers who are not always familiar with the medication processes
In addition, a quarter of homes lack a system for tracking expiry dates, while medication is not always stored safely in one third of homes.
“Medication safety is a multi-step process that takes a lot of time; there is a large margin for making mistakes or forgetting things” says Joris Moonens of the Flemish Department of Care. “Registering systematically reduces the risk of someone being given too much or too little. If you don’t, there is a risk of errors and even abuse.”
Staes attributes the issue to the staff shortage in the healthcare sector. “That not only puts pressure on the workers,” he says. “The shortage is filled by using temporary workers who are not always familiar with the medication processes.”
The Department of Care will continue to monitor the issue and is working with KU Leuven university to develop a manual that centres can use in their operations.