"Cohen’'s book better describes specific medication errors and how to prevent them. The centerpiece is an excellent chapter on 'high-alert medications,' which Cohen defines as drugs with a high risk of causing patient injury or death if they are misused; the chapter includes a comprehensive table of safety measures for various drug classes."
—New England Journal of Medicine
August 9, 2007

"This book is unique in the field. It should be a mandatory read for all pharmacy students and is certainly a valuable addition to any academic, industrial, or personal library." 
—Thomas Jacobsen, PharmD
GlaxoSmithKline

Doody's Book Review Service Rating * * * * *

Medication Errors is the most comprehensive, authoritative examination of the causes of and means to preventing medication errors. It helps readers understand the system-based causes of medication errors, including pharmaceutical trademarks, drug packaging and labeling, and error-prone abbreviations and dose expressions, as well as the patient’s role in preventing medication errors.

The book also examines preventing medication errors in relation to specific medications, patients, and conditions; reducing risk and creating a just culture of safety through medication error reporting systems; disclosing medication errors to patients; conducting risk analysis and treatment; and following the clinical bioethics of safe medication practices.

Table of Contents
• Part I. Preparing for Action
   – Systems Analysis and Redesign: The Foundation of Medical Error Prevention
   – Research on Errors in Dispensing and Medication Administration
   – Health Care Providers’ Experiences with Making Fatal Medication Errors
• Part II. Understanding the Causes of Medication Errors
   – Causes of Medication Errors
   – Root Cause Analysis of Medication Errors
   – The Role of Drug Names in Medication Errors
   – The Role of Drug Packaging and Labeling in Medication Errors
   – Error-Prone Abbreviations and Dose Expressions
• Part III. Preventing Medication Errors: A Shared Responsibility
   – Preventing Prescribing Errors
   – Preventing Dispensing Errors
   – Preventing Drug Administration Errors
   – Preventing Medication Errors Related to Drug Delivery Devices
   – The Patient’s Role in Preventing Medication Errors
• Part IV. Preventing Medication Errors: Specific Medications, Patients, and Conditions
   – High-Alert Medications: Safeguarding Against Errors
   – Using Technology to Prevent Medication Errors
   – Preventing Medication Errors in Cancer Chemotherapy
   – Preventing Medication Errors in Pediatric and Neonatal Patients
   – Preventing Medication Errors with Immunologic Drugs
• Part V. Reducing Risks and Creating a Just Culture of Safety
   – Medication Error Reporting Systems
   – Disclosing Medication Errors to Patients and Families
   – Health Care Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
   – The Clinical Bioethics of Safe Medication Practices
   – Managing Medication Risks Through a Culture of Safety