Wolfson Law Firm, LLP HomeCaremark Medication Error Lawyer
Pharmacies in the US fill an estimated 4.4 billion prescriptions each year. Across the nation, there are almost 6,800 different prescription medications that can be dispensed to patients. The large volume of prescriptions, as well as similar-sounding drug names, can lead to pharmacies making errors when filling prescriptions. Specifically, the rise of generic brands with similar names can also add to confusion. Medication errors are costly to our healthcare system, with the estimated cost exceeding $40 billion each year, including medical treatment, lost wages, and lost productivity.
Pharmacists may be working in chaotic situations during the day. Unlike a doctor’s office where patients schedule a time to be seen, pharmacies, such as Caremark, fill prescriptions on demand as people wait. Research on pharmacies sets the error range between 1.7% and 22%, with approximately 6.5% of the mistakes considered to be significant. With not all pharmacies able to access patient history, pharmacists can be at a disadvantage if they are lacking key health and allergy data. Lack of information, high traffic, and a large volume of medication can lead to Caremark pharmacies making mistakes when filling prescriptions. If you have sustained an injury due to a Caremark pharmacy error, contact the personal injury attorneys at the Wolfson Law Firm for a free consultation at (305) 285-1115.
The company currently known as CVS Caremark has a long history of prescription benefit management (PBM) and physician practice management (PPM) services. They were originally founded as MedPartners, Inc. by the HealthSouth Corporation back in 1993. They underwent several operational changes including the acquisition of Caremark International in 1996, the disposal of their PPM business and name change to Caremark Rx in 2000, a merger with AdvancePCS in 2003, and then ultimately being acquired by CVS in March 2007.
They have over 16,000 employees and offer a prescription network that includes over 60,000 pharmacies. They also operate 85 mail-order and specialty pharmacies across the country.
What are Look Alike / Sound Alike Medications?Look Alike Sound Alike (LASA) refers to drug pairs that are often confused with each other due to their names looking or sounding similar. LASA medications can be easily mixed up by a pharmacist when filling a prescription. A few common LASA include:
- Benadryl and Benazepril: Benadryl is prescribed to treat symptoms of allergies and Benazepril is used to treat high blood pressure
- Cymbalta and Symbyax: Cymbalta is used to treat depression whereas Symbyax is prescribed for patients with psychosis related to dementia
- Hydrogesic and hydroxyzine: Hydrogesic medications are used to treat pain, whereas hydroxyzine is prescribed to treat itching caused by allergies
Pharmacists must take precautions to ensure that they are prescribing the correct medication.
Caremark Pharmacy Medication Mistake Accident LawyersThe Caremark prescription mistake lawyers at the Wolfson Law Firm represent clients who have been the victim of a prescription error. We fight for the rights of those who have been injured by:
- Attorney for injury due to wrong medication dispensed by a Caremark pharmacy
- Caremark pharmacy medication dosage error causing patient injury lawyer
- Medication labeling error made by a Caremark pharmacy injury attorney
- Accident lawyer for injury resulting from inadequate prescription directions for use by a Caremark pharmacy
- Medicine dispensed that patient is allergic to by a Caremark pharmacy accident attorney
- Medication error leading to overdose injury caused by a Caremark pharmacist injury lawyer
- Patient injury resulting from a failure of a Caremark pharmacy to advise of medication side-effects
Contact the pharmacy prescription mistake injury attorneys at the Wolfson Law Firm if you have been injured as the result of a Caremark pharmacy error. Our personal injury lawyers can answer your questions about compensation for medical treatment, future care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We provide a confidential consultation at no cost to you. We have offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach. We are available for consultation and representation throughout Florida including the communities of Orlando, Naples, Tampa, Florida Keys, Jacksonville and Miami Beach. Call the Caremark Pharmacy injury attorneys at the Wolfson Law Firm today at (305) 285-1115.
