Although in-hospital medication errors receive most of the attention, neighborhood-drug-store mishaps, similar to the one in Colorado, also occur frequently.

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Because according to some pretty convincing research out of UC San Diego, the July influx brings with it a 10 percent surge in fatal medication errors.

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This week the commission released tips for keeping your child safe in the hospital, noting that according to its figures, one in 15 hospitalized children is harmed by medication errors.

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Other medication errors also were identified, such as incomplete orders in 18%, incorrect orders in 13%, omissions in 11%, and small numbers of duplications and discontinuations.

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Phillips' research shows that in the first few days of each month fatalities due to medication errors rise by as much as 25 percent above normal.

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He added it would be interesting to see whether the electronic patient record would prevent more errors once it was in place as any clinician treating the patient would be able to see relevant medication information, whatever their location or the time of day.

BBC: Drug errors 'communication link'