Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

In the context of medication error prevention, what does the term "right drug" entail?

1. Selecting the least expensive medication

2. Confirming the medication matches the prescribed treatment

3. Choosing an injectable form over an oral form

4. Identifying medications with the same branding

The correct answer is: Confirming the medication matches the prescribed treatment

The term "right drug" in medication error prevention refers to ensuring that the medication being administered matches the specific drug prescribed for the patient's treatment. This concept is fundamental to the "Five Rights" of medication administration, which includes the right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. Confirming that the medication corresponds precisely to what was prescribed helps minimize the risk of adverse drug events, incorrect treatments, or interactions, thereby enhancing patient safety. Selecting the least expensive medication does not necessarily guarantee that the correct treatment is being provided, as cost does not equate to clinical appropriateness. Choosing an injectable form over an oral form is a matter of administration route that must be determined based on clinical judgment rather than the specific identification of the drug itself. Identifying medications with the same branding may lead to confusion and does not ensure that the correct drug is being selected, since different drugs can have similar branding but different indications or effects. Thus, confirming the medication matches the prescribed treatment is the primary concern when discussing the "right drug."