The odds are good that you know someone who has been given the wrong prescription medication or the wrong dosage at one time or another. This is a serious problem that can lead to major side effects — or even death. While statistics show that as many as 98,000 people die every year in the United States alone due to medication errors, there are ways to safeguard yourself from falling victim.

Why Prescription Errors Occur

There are a lot of things that contribute to medication errors. Maybe your doctor wrote the wrong dosage on your prescription (or the pharmacist had a difficult time deciphering the handwriting), or maybe things were so busy at the pharmacy that the staff member dispensing the medication wasn’t as diligent as they should have been. Sometimes a simple lack of training is to blame. And, all-too-often, larger corporate pharmacies rely too heavily on automated systems to dispense doses, which when not double checked can lead to errors.

With several steps involved in the drug treatment process, there is room for error. Unfortunately, even the smallest error can have devastating consequences. That is why the pharmacists at Arena District Pharmacy work so hard to pinpoint trouble spots and work to fix them before a mistake is made.

As an owner-operated business, Arena District Pharmacy has been able to institute a series of layered safety protocols that larger pharmacies are unable to do. Here are just a few of the things that helps the Arena District Pharmacy create a safer environment for its customers:

• On-going Training. Training at Arena District Pharmacy is ongoing. Whether it is learning about new drugs and their side effects to learning new ways to interact with patients, we believe that there is always something new to discover — and we do whatever is necessary to equip our entire staff with the skills necessary to handle the job efficiently and safely. 
• Real Person Service. Unlike many larger pharmacies, the staff at Arena District Pharmacy does not rely on a machine to fill prescriptions or dispense dosages. That job reserved for a trained and qualified pharmacist.
• Proper Staffing. It is not uncommon for a busy franchise to fill 400-500 prescriptions in a single shift. When staff members are pushed beyond their limits, they can (and do) make mistakes. That is why Arena District Pharmacy limits the time pharmacists and technicians are on the floor, offering periodic breaks to help them clear their heads and feel less stressed.
• Layered Safety Protocols. No prescription leaves Arena District Pharmacy until it has been checked several times; often by several different people. This helps ensure that no mistake has been made.
• Personalized Service. One of the greatest benefits the patients at Arena District Pharmacy experience is one-on-one personalized service. Not just another number, every customer is like family. Our pharmacists and technicians strive to get to know our customers on a personal level. That way we have a better idea of your medical condition and how you use your medications. That allows us to understand your situation better and even spot trouble sooner. After all, a pharmacist who is familiar with the other drugs you are taking may spot a dangerous interaction before filling a new prescription and contact the doctor right away.

Don’t let a prescription error send you to the hospital. Choose a pharmacy that you can trust. Stop in at Arena District Pharmacy today to learn more about all of the things they do to prevent medication errors.