Create a 500‐750-word comprehensive outline that communicates the following about your chosen topic: Introduction: Identify the risk management topic you have chosen to address and why it is important within your health care sector. Rationale: Illustrate how this risk management strategy is lacking within your selected organization's current risk management plan and explain how its implementation will better meet local, state, and federal compliance standards.

Create a 500‐750-word comprehensive outline that communicates the following about your chosen topic: Introduction: Identify the risk management topic you have chosen to address and why it is important within your health care sector. Rationale: Illustrate how this risk management strategy is lacking within your selected organization's current risk management plan and explain how its implementation will better meet local, state, and federal compliance standards.

Introduction: The risk management topic I have chosen is "Preventing Medication Errors in Hospitals". This topic is crucial within the health care sector because medication errors can lead to serious patient harm, including adverse drug events and even death.

Rationale: Currently, the selected organization's risk management plan lacks a comprehensive strategy for preventing medication errors. Implementing such a strategy will not only improve patient safety but also ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, such as those set forth by the Joint Commission and the Food and Drug Administration.

Support: Data from the Institute of Medicine indicate that medication errors are among the most common medical errors, harming at least 1.5 million people each year. This underscores the need for a robust risk management initiative focused on medication safety. Moreover, it is the organization's legal responsibility to provide a safe health care facility and work environment, which includes ensuring the safe use of medications.

Implementation: The proposed strategy will be implemented in several steps. First, a multidisciplinary team will be formed to review and analyze medication error reports. Second, the team will identify areas for improvement and develop interventions, such as staff education and process changes. Third, these interventions will be implemented and monitored for effectiveness.

Challenges: Potential obstacles include resistance to change, lack of resources, and communication barriers. These can be addressed by obtaining leadership support, allocating necessary resources, and fostering open communication.

Evaluation: The success of the proposed risk management program will be evaluated by tracking key performance indicators, such as the number of medication errors, and assessing whether the program meets the organization's short-term, long-term, and end goals.

Opportunities: In addition to addressing medication errors, the organization could also focus on other areas of risk management, such as patient falls and hospital-acquired infections. By addressing these areas, the organization can further improve patient safety and quality of care.