Proper Management of Medications to Limit Errors: What the Oral Surgeon Should Know to Limit Medication Errors and Adverse Drug Events.

Providing safe and effective ambulatory anesthesia is a key component in delivering optimal care to oral and maxillofacial patients. Unfortunately, medication errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) occur in offices, as they do in hospital operating rooms. Preparing and delivering medication seems simple. In reality, this is a complex process with multiple opportunities for drug errors leading to actual or potential ADEs. This article reviews medication errors and ADEs, introduces a medication safety paradigm for oral and maxillofacial surgery facilities, and provides practical safety initiatives that can be implemented to achieve the goal of optimal anesthesia patient care and safety.