BIO 312/313 Spelling Policy

BIO 312/313 Spelling Policy

Spelling errors include: Spelling errors Improper use of singular/plural Confusing/omitting right/left &

artery/vein/nerve where warranted

Illegible handwriting

Singular/Plural, R/L & A/V/N: ½ point deducted

Spelling Errors: Letter or two – ½ point deducted Several letters, unrecognizable,

phonetically incorrect or misspelling results in new structure/meaning – 1 point deducted

Illegible handwriting: 1 point deducted

Why do we care about accuracy?

Why do we care about accuracy?

A lawyer writes: “The plaintiff should recieve

$10,000 in damages.” Has anyone been physically

harmed by this spelling error?

How about these?

A nurse writes on a patient’s chart: “X-ray requested of the ileum.” When he/she

means “ilium.”

Barium Enema = Unhappy Patient

A doctor writes “qid” on a prescription for Coumadin -

instead of “qd.”

The patient takes the medication 4 times a day

rather than once a day. . .

. . . and dies of gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

2006: 3 infants die after 10,000 u/ml Heparin dose (10 u/ml prescribed)

2007: 14 infants receive Heparin overdose

2008: more deaths result from the same mistake. . .

Results in new product labeling. .

.

Results in new product labeling. .

.Old Label New Label

A pharmacist fills a prescription for Dioval with Diovan.

DIOVAN is a high blood pressure medication.

DIOVAL is an estradiol hormone.

Don’t all doctors have messy handwriting?

Who cares??

This prescription for Isordil was read by the

pharmacist as Plendil.

While these medications treat the same condition, the

dosages are vastly different.

The patient died of a heart attack.

His family cared.