YOUNG-MIN LEE

Medication errors in hospitalised children occur at similar rates to adults (4.3-5.7% of orders) but have 3 times the potential to cause harm. Children are more vulnerable than adults as they have immature organs to metabolise drugs. Calculations are required to determine the dosage based on weight of the child, thus there is more potential for error. "Young-Min" is an eighteen month-old infant who has been suffering from recurrent urinary tract infection and has a suspected urinary tract anomaly.

On the day in which the module begins, he was seen by a paediatrician in his rooms and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Young-Min was sent with his Korean mother to the local hospital to be admitted for treatment. An error occurred in the administration of Gentamicin to the child, which is detected before it causes any harm. The module explores the communication that occurs within the healthcare team in detecting and correcting the problem, as well as the issues associated with communicating with a patient from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, and the correct procedures for open disclosure.

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Supporting documents

1. Open Disclosure Standard- A National Standard (pdf)
2. Open Disclosure Standard Fact Sheet (pdf)
3. Critical Thinking Questions (pdf)
4. Interpreters- Standard procedures for working with Health Care Interpreters (pdf)