@article{1693, author = {Kristin M. Hirata and Ann H. Kang and Gina Ramirez V and Chieko Kimata and Loren G. Yamamoto}, title = {Pediatric Weight Errors and Resultant Medication Dosing Errors in the Emergency Department.}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: An accurate weight is critical for dosing medications in children. Weight errors can lead to medication-dosing errors.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the frequency and consequences of weight errors occurring at 1 children's hospital and 2 general hospitals.

METHODS: Using an electronic medical record database, 79,000 emergency department encounters of children younger than 5 years were analyzed. Extreme weights were first identified using weight percentiles. Encounters with potential weight errors were further evaluated using a retrospective chart review to determine whether a weight error and medication-dosing error occurred.

RESULTS: The percentage of weight errors of total encounters at all 3 institutions was low (0.63% on average), but a large proportion of weight errors led to subsequent medication-dosing errors (34% on average). The children's hospital did not have clinically significantly lower occurrences of weight errors or weight-based medication errors. Common weight errors included the weight in pounds being substituted for the weight in kilograms and decimal placement errors.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight errors were uncommon at the 3 emergency departments that we studied, but they led to weight-based medication-dosing errors that had the potential to cause harm.

}, year = {2019}, journal = {Pediatr Emerg Care}, volume = {35}, pages = {637-642}, month = {09/2019}, issn = {1535-1815}, doi = {10.1097/PEC.0000000000001277}, language = {eng}, }