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Study: Too many physicians involved in care leads to more errors

Physician Practice Advisor, September 27, 2006

Elderly patients who see several physicians are more likely to experience a medication error than patients seeing two or fewer physicians, according to a study by Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefit management company.

According to the analysis, the more physicians a patient sees, the more prescriptions he or she is required to take-seniors receiving prescriptions from two physicians averaged 27 prescriptions per year, compared to 42 prescriptions for seniors seeing five or more physicians. Roughly one in four seniors (24%) sees five or more physicians, putting them at a 60% greater risk for a medication error, the study found.

A lack of coordination between physicians and pharmacies increases the likelihood of medication errors. The danger increases with the number of physicians a patient sees, researchers concluded.

Click here to read a Medco Health Solutions press release about the study.

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