Sec. 10.34.26.01. Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) "High-alert medication" means a medication with:

(a) A significant potential for involvement in a mediation error due to the medication's name, packaging, appearance, dosing, or other characteristics of the agent; or

(b) A high potential for causing serious harm or injury if used incorrectly.

(2) Medication Error.

(a) "Medication error" means any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer.

(b) "Medication error" includes events that may be related to professional practice, health care products, procedures, and systems, including prescribing, order communication, product labeling, packaging, nomenclature, compounding, dispensing, distribution, administration, education, monitoring, and use.

(3) Ongoing Quality Assurance Program.

(a) "Ongoing quality assurance program" means a program that systematically and routinely reviews the medication delivery system of a pharmacy for the purpose of minimizing the occurrence of medication errors.

(b) "Ongoing quality assurance program" includes:

(i) The systematic and routine collection of information regarding the performance of the medication delivery system as it becomes available;

(ii) The investigation of medication errors at the time the error is reported or discovered, or within a reasonable amount of time after the medication error is reported or discovered; or

(iii) A record, proceeding, file, or other document maintained to comply with Regulations .03 or .04 of this chapter, COMAR 10.34.21.03, COMAR 10.34.28.09, or COMAR 10.34.28.10.