What should a pharmacist do immediately upon discovering a dispensing error?

Upon discovering a dispensing error, the immediate action of completing an incident report is crucial because it serves as a formal documentation of the error. This process not only helps in identifying the specifics of what went wrong, including the circumstances surrounding the mistake, but also initiates a review process that can enhance overall pharmacy safety.

An incident report allows the pharmacy to analyze patterns of errors, identify systemic issues, and implement improvements to prevent similar mistakes in the future. Proper documentation is essential for legal and regulatory reasons, ensuring accountability and transparency within the pharmacy practice. This action lays the groundwork for a thorough investigation into the error and contributes to continuous quality improvement in pharmacy operations.

While notifying the patient, consulting with a supervisor, and changing the system process are also important steps that follow the immediate response to an error, the act of completing an incident report establishes an official record that is critical for the overall safety and quality of the pharmacy practice.