Pharmacy mistakes are surprisingly common, but it should come as no surprise that speed contributes to errors. A survey of almost 700 pharmacists by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices found that many pharmacy chains offer time guarantees. That is to say, the pharmacy might advertise that you can get your prescription filled within 15 minutes. More than 20 percent of the pharmacists working under such conditions reported financial incentives to meet the time guarantees. Nearly half of the pharmacists participating in such hurry-up situations reported that they had made a dispensing error partly due to time pressure. Everyone’s in a hurry these days, but choosing a pharmacy based on how quickly you can get your medicine dispensed is a prescription for trouble.
[ISMP Safety Alert, Sept. 6, 2012]
