Pharmacy News Chris Jerry Campaigns For Change After Two Year Old Daughter’s Death
What are the dangers of outdated pharmacy point of sale software? Too many Americans do not realize that efficient pharmacy operations are critical for our overall well-being and health. A series of pharmacy errors in Ohio, for example, resulted in the tragic and unnecessary death of Emily Jerry — a girl who was just two years old at the time. What happened, and how can pharmacies make sure it doesn’t happen again?
What Happened to Two Year Old Emily Jerry?
When Emily was one and a half years old, doctors diagnosed her with a tumor “the size of a grapefruit,” according to her father, Chris Jerry. Emily responded to treatments incredibly well — and, after several rounds of chemotherapy — her cancer had all but disappeared. Stunned, the hospital’s medical staff ordered just one more chemotherapy treatment. The treatment was meant as a precaution to ensure all of the cancer was out of the toddler’s system. Instead of saving her, that last round of chemotherapy killed Emily.
Emily’s death resulted from a failed hospital system and a negligent pharmacy technician. First, the hospital’s digital system failed — very likely affecting the amount of medication on-hand. Secondly, a pharmacy technician prepared a chemotherapy bag by hand, ultimately filling it with 23.4% sodium chloride solution. The bag should have contained less than 1% sodium chloride! The tech served several years in prison after Emily’s death.
What Hospital and Retail Pharmacies Need to Take Away From It
“My beautiful Emily’s death was senseless and preventable,” Chris Jerry writes on The Emily Jerry Foundation, a website he created in Emily’s honor. Years after his daughter’s death, Jerry continues traveling the U.S. and campaigning for change. What changes? The best pharmacy POS systems, according to Jerry, serve two functions. First, they confirm inventory and/or hand counts. Second, they have some kind of live monitoring software to measure solutions for accurate and safe distribution of prescription drugs and medications.
Retail, out-patient, and hospital pharmacies need to act with extreme care. Chris Jerry, and many others, impress the importance of using the best pharmacy POS systems, and adequately training all employees, including pharmacy technicians. More can be found here: www.rm-solutions.com
