What is a commission error in medication reconciliation?

A commission error in medication reconciliation refers to an action or record that should not have occurred. This type of error is characterized by incorrect information being documented or acted upon as if it were accurate. In this case, recording a drug that the patient isn't actually taking represents a commission error because it involves actively making an incorrect entry in the patient's medication record.

This form of error can lead to significant issues, such as drug interactions, inappropriate treatment plans, or a lack of necessary medications being provided to the patient. Accurate medication reconciliation is crucial to patient safety and ensuring that patients receive the correct medications as part of their therapy.

The other options reflect various types of mistakes or lapses in medication management but do not fit the definition of a commission error. For instance, patients filling prescriptions incorrectly or forgetting to take their medications relate to patient behavior and adherence rather than errors made in documentation. Failing to check allergy history is also an oversight but does not involve the act of recording incorrect medication data. Therefore, accurately capturing the medications a patient is taking, or not taking, is vital to effective medication management and patient safety.