Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) Practice Exam

Which of the following can be a serious outcome of medication errors?

1. Increased patient satisfaction

2. Prolonged hospital stays

3. Improved therapeutic effectiveness

4. Reduced healthcare costs

The correct answer is: Prolonged hospital stays

Prolonged hospital stays can be a serious outcome of medication errors because when a mistake occurs in medication administration—such as the wrong dosage, improper drug interactions, or administering a drug that the patient is allergic to—it can lead to adverse effects that complicate the patient's condition. These complications may require additional treatment, monitoring, and sometimes even surgical interventions, all of which can extend the duration of the hospital stay. In contrast, increased patient satisfaction and improved therapeutic effectiveness are not associated with medication errors. Instead, medication errors typically lead to negative experiences among patients and can diminish the effectiveness of the treatment regimen. Reduced healthcare costs are generally achieved through efficiencies and preventive measures, whereas medication errors can lead to increased costs due to extended care, the need for additional interventions, and potential legal ramifications. Hence, prolonged hospital stays directly correlate with the impact of medication errors on patient outcomes.