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patient safety · medication safety

Medication administration safeguards

This bowtie maps the barriers around medication administration. On the left, it separates conditions that can lead to the top event: a medicine is given to the wrong patient. Barcode scanning, storage design and an uninterrupted workflow are preventative controls. On the right, it shows actions that limit harm once the medicine has reached the patient, including observation, rapid response and pharmacy review. The diagram is a structured conversation aid, not a substitute for local clinical policy or professional judgment. Tailor the threats and barriers to the medicine, care setting and electronic record used by the team. Record who owns each barrier and how the team checks that it is available when needed.

Tipo Diagrama de corbatínNorma CCPS / Energy Institute 2018Motor schematex-bowtieActualizado 24/9/2026
Medication administration safeguards
Drawing preview
La solicitud

“A medication administration bowtie: the hazard is medications used in patient care and the top event is a wrong medication reaching the patient. Show look-alike packaging, interruptions and incorrect patient identification as threats, with scanning, storage, protected rounds, records and identity checks as barriers. Show adverse reaction, ongoing treatment harm and delayed care with observation, rapid response, pharmacist, incident, prescriber and care-plan barriers.”

Entonces pruebaAdd a dose calculation error threatAdd an allergy alert barrier
Qué hay en este dibujo

Lee las decisiones que hay detrás.

01Top event

Define the loss of control before harm occurs.

02Threats

Separate packaging and workflow failures.

03Prevention

Put verification controls before administration.

04Recovery

Show care actions after the error reaches a patient.

Use this during a medication-safety review or staff training discussion.

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Preguntas frecuentes

Preguntas habituales

What is the top event?

It is the moment a wrong medication reaches the patient, before a clinical outcome occurs.

Why show recovery barriers?

They make the actions that detect and reduce harm after the top event visible.

Can this replace medication policy?

No. Use it to discuss controls alongside the organisation's approved medication procedures.