RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Elimination of Emergency Department Medication Errors Due To Estimated Weights JF BMJ Quality Improvement Reports JO BMJ Qual Improv Report FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group SP u214416.w5476 DO 10.1136/bmjquality.u214416.w5476 VO 6 IS 1 A1 Mary Greenwalt A1 David Griffen A1 Jim Wilkerson YR 2017 UL http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/6/1/u214416.w5476.abstract AB From 7/2014 through 6/2015, 10 emergency department (ED) medication dosing errors were reported through the electronic incident reporting system of an urban academic medical center. Analysis of these medication errors identified inaccurate estimated weight on patients as the root cause. The goal of this project was to reduce weight-based dosing medication errors due to inaccurate estimated weights on patients presenting to the ED. Chart review revealed that 13.8% of estimated weights documented on admitted ED patients varied more than 10% from subsequent actual admission weights recorded. A random sample of 100 charts containing estimated weights revealed 2 previously unreported significant medication dosage errors (.02 significant error rate). Key improvements included removing barriers to weighing ED patients, storytelling to engage staff and change culture, and removal of the estimated weight documentation field from the ED electronic health record (EHR) forms. With these improvements estimated weights on ED patients, and the resulting medication errors, were eliminated.