Question about Mistakes

[SpartanLaser]

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Do pharmacists have any kind of insurance against mistakes like doctors do?

What happens if a life threatening mistake is made? Do you automatically lose the license if someone is killed?

Due to all the high volumes of retail pharmacy (tons of customers, lots of phones ringing, understaffed), how do pharmacists prevent such mistakes from happening?

 

[Praziquantel86]

1) Yes, it's called malpractice insurance. Pharmacists typically carry a $1/$3 million policy, either self-provided or through their company. It's significantly cheaper for pharmacists than physicians, however.

2) Depends on the situation. There are no automatics in life.

3) Doing the best they can for their patients and doing due diligence on every prescription. Mistakes happen, but pharmacists do their best to prevent them.

 

[rph3664]

My malpractice insurance costs $144 a year for $1 million in coverage. I've never been sued, nor can I think of anyone else who has, although I do know someone who sued a pharmacy and won. He asked for, and got, reimbursement of his medical expenses and lost wages incurred as a result of a med error that almost killed him.

 

[SpartanLaser]

My malpractice insurance costs $144 a year for $1 million in coverage. I've never been sued, nor can I think of anyone else who has, although I do know someone who sued a pharmacy and won. He asked for, and got, reimbursement of his medical expenses and lost wages incurred as a result of a med error that almost killed him.

What happened to the pharmacist that made the error tho?

 

[WhYMee]

check out hpso on malpractice insurance

 

[type b pharmD]

some states boards website will list current licensure issues like disciplinary warnings and actions against pharmacists , describe the type of mistake, and penalties . of course it varies on a situation by situation basis, but you would be able to find out reasons the pharmacist's license got suspended. Usually there are warnings given for most situations. The only pharmacists who face suspensions of license are if they are chronic / repeat offenders, deliberately and knowingly breaking administrative law, or have clearly evidenced themselves to be extremely grossly negligent.

I wondered about this too and looked it up. My conclusion was of course that mistakes happen, but if you be the best you can be and work hardest on preventing the most severe and major ones, you will generally be okay. Of course, bad luck could occur.

 

[rx76onu]

Do pharmacists have any kind of insurance against mistakes like doctors do?

What happens if a life threatening mistake is made? Do you automatically lose the license if someone is killed?

Due to all the high volumes of retail pharmacy (tons of customers, lots of phones ringing, understaffed), how do pharmacists prevent such mistakes from happening?

Check out Pharmacists Mutual. It is a company started FOR pharmacists. It is cheap and smart to do. The company you work for will have one but that is protect them not you. I have never had to use it but I want it in case something happens!

http://www.phmic.com