Mass. Druggist Danger As Prescription Errors Soar

By JESSICA HESLAM

Bay State drug stores drew a record number of complaints for bungled prescriptions last year, handing unwitting patients medications that might have killed them and leaving alarmed officials scrambling to toughen regulations.

“They don’t have enough pharmacists. Our lives are in jeopardy,” said Brockton grandmother Monique Telisma, whose 4-year-old special- needs granddaughter was hospitalized after she was given the wrong medication last summer. “Our lives are in endanger.”

The Board of Registration in Pharmacy received 148 prescription error complaints in 2005, most against pharmacy giant CVS. That number nearly doubled from 2004, when consumers lodged but 82 complaints. The board said it has been investigating the 2005 complaints and plans to release a full report by the end of January.

State Sen. Susan C. Fargo (D-Lincoln), who heads the Joint Committee on Public Health, said last year’s high numbers are of “great concern,” adding “there are life-threatening implications.”

Discplinary action was taken against 49 pharmacies, pharmacists and technicians in 2005 – although many cases are still open. In 2004, disciplinary action was taken in 30 prescription cases.

In Massachusetts, it’s up to the customer to report prescription blunders. Now, legislation is pending that would require pharmacists to report prescription errors to the state Department of Public Health.

State Sen. Susan Tucker (D-Andover), who filed the bill, said: “Errors can have very serious medical consequences. We need a mechanism to measure these errors. What gets measured gets managed.”

Massachusetts pharmacies had until Dec. 31, 2005, to set up a prescription error program under regulations that went into effect last January. Pharmacists must investigate medication errors, record them with their pharmacies, notify patients and undergo yearly anti- prescription error training.

A pharmacist shortage, English deficiencies and an increase in medication needs are fueling the error problem. While blunders are on the rise, the number of prescriptions dispensed in Massachusetts has risen to 79 million in 2004 from 66 million in 2000.

“Every medication error is of concern,” said Jean Pontikas, director of the state’s Division of Health Professions Licensure.

The recent slip-ups have sent several Bay Staters to the hospital.

Little Cyira “Ce Ce” Gillard, 4, wound up in the hospital hooked up to a heart monitor after taking heart medication meant for a boy. A CVS pharmacist gave the girl’s mom the wrong medication. “It was hard for us,” her grandmother said. “I double check now.”

CVS spokesman Michael DeAngelis said the firm has installed scanner technology at its pharmacies to “ensure the correct medication from inventory is being dispensed to the correct customer.”

jheslam@bostonherald.com

GRAPHIC: Rx for disaster in Bay State (bar graphs)

Year Reported Disciplinary action

Complaints taken against pharmacies,

pharmacists and technicians

2000 75 20

2001 82 9

2002 86 16

2003 64 31

2004 82 30

2005 148 49 (some cases still open)

Sources: Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Kaiser Family Foundation

Sidebar: To avoid taking the wrong prescription:

** Always speak to the pharmacist about each new prescription.

** Check the label, making sure you have the right medication and that your name is on it.

** Open the bottle. Know the size, shape and color of your medication. If it looks different, ask the pharmacist why.

** Be sure to know the dose and purpose of your medication.

** Try to get all your medications at the same pharmacy.

** Never take any medication if you suspect an error has been made.

Source: Division of Health Professions Lisensure of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

STAFF GRAPHIC

Caption: Cammella Lasseues’s daughter Cyira Gillard was given an incorrect prescription by a CVS pharmacist last year.