The Challenge:

Medical errors linked to poor packaging labeling and design are quite common. In one study examining the risk of medication errors, it was determined that 38 percent of errors occur at the point of care/bedside. The wound care nurse is often the clinician who directs wound care, but more than 70 percent of the time, it's the bedside nurse who applies the dressings in our hospital system.

The Impact:

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) estimates that nearly 15 million instances of medical harm occur in the United States each year – a rate of more than 40,000 per day. These medical errors cost the nation approximately $37.6 billion each year; about $17 billion of those costs are associated with preventable errors, according to the November 1999 report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

The Prevention Above All Intervention:

To reduce medical errors, Medline redesigned its Advance Wound Care packaging in a format that allows each package to serve as a 2-minute course on advanced wound care.
The innovative packaging design is an improved delivery and communication system to help healthcare professionals better understand and more easily deliver wound care at the patient’s bedside. It eliminates confusion with clear, step-by-step information, eliminating the clutter and highlighting critical information.