Trying to prevent more deaths due to anticoagulant medication errors, the Joint Commission, an independent, nonprofit agency that accredits U.S. healthcare organizations, issued an alert on Wednesday describing ways of preventing such incidents.

“Anticoagulants are vital to maximizing the effectiveness of many medical treatments and surgical procedures that benefit patients, but the systems necessary to ensure that these drugs are used safely are not adequate. The strategies contained in this Alert give health care organizations and caregivers the tools to make a difference in preventing anticoagulant medication errors,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H.., president, The Joint Commission.

The Joint Commission’s new Sentinel Event Alert focuses on errors coming from the administration of heparin and warfarin (Coumadin), the most used blood thinning drugs, and also on problems that arise because these drugs can interact with so very many other medications, increasing complications’ risk and making their efficiency decrease considerably.

The Joint Commission also cited incorrect dosages and poor labeling among factors causing medical errors related to blood thinner. Therefore, they ask hospitals to be sure on the amount of the drug they should give to a certain patient. Also doses specially designed for adults should not stay near doses for children, avoiding this way cases of overdose in children. in fact, babies and children should be paid special attention when being given blood thinning drugs, the new requirements say.

More information on blood thinning drugs alert can be found on the Joint Commission’s Web site at www.jointcommission.org.