What are the Key Areas of Verification in Pediatric Care?
1. Patient Identification: Accurate patient identification is fundamental. Misidentification can lead to serious errors, including incorrect treatment. Wristbands with unique identifiers, as well as electronic health records (EHRs), are commonly used to ensure that each patient is correctly identified.
2. Medication Administration: Pediatric medication dosing often requires weight-based calculations, making verification essential to avoid overdosing or underdosing. Double-checking dosages, verifying patient weight, and using technology like barcode scanning are all part of this process.
3. Clinical Information: Verification of clinical information, such as lab results and imaging, ensures that diagnosis and treatment plans are based on accurate data. EHR systems often have built-in verification steps to minimize errors.
