Journal of North Khorasan

Background and objectives: Regarding the patients' vital conditions in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for burns, preventing medicinal errors is of utmost importance. This study evaluates the processes of prescribing and consuming drugs in ICU for burns in Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad by using the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA).

Materials and Methods :This was a qualitative and quantitative study based on the 9-by-steps explanation of the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and the criteria of National Center for Patient Safety. Brainstorming and cause and effect diagram, are the main used instruments in the procedure. We applied the standard scoring Table to determine the risk priority number (RPN). We used descriptive statistics and content analysis with consensus views of the team members, for quantitative  and qualitative data analysis, respectively.

Results: Sixty eight failure modes were identified in two processes of prescribing and consuming drugs in ICU for burns. From which, Twenty seven percentages were determined as high risk. Therefore, suggestions were proposed to reduce or eliminate these errors

Conclusions: This study showed the importance of FMEA in assessment of errors during the medication administration process. Moreover, it showed the role of employees in errors reduction in burns ICU.