Table 6: Categories of Medication Error Classification

Category	Description	Example
A	No error, capacity to cause error	NA
B	Error that did not reach the patient	NA
C	Error that reached patient but unlikely to cause harm (omissions considered to reach patient)	Multivitamin was not ordered on admission
D	Error that reached the patient and could have necessitated monitoring and/or intervention to preclude harm	Regular release metoprolol was ordered for patient instead of extended-release
E	Error that could have caused temporary harm	Blood pressure medication was inadvertently omitted from the orders
F	Error that could have caused temporary harm requiring initial or prolonged hospitalization	Anticoagulant, such as warfarin, was ordered daily when the patient takes it every other day
G	Error that could have resulted in permanent harm	Immunosuppressant medication was unintentionally ordered at one-fourth the dose
H	Error that could have necessitated intervention to sustain life	Anticonvulsant therapy was inadvertently omitted
I	Error that could have resulted in death	Beta-blocker was not reordered post-operatively

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