NCC MERP Index for Categorizing Medication Errors

Category I: Category A: Definitions

An error occurred that
may have contributed to
or resulted in the
patients death
Category H:
An error occurred that
required intervention
necessary to sustain life
Category G:
An error occurred that
may have contributed to or
resulted in permanent
patient harm
No Error Category F:
An error occurred that may
Error, No Harm have contributed to or
resulted in temporary harm
to the patient and required
Error, Harm initial or prolonged
hospitalization
Error, Death
Circumstances or
events that have the Harm
capacity to cause error Impairment of the
physical, emotional, or
psychological function or
Category B: structure of the body
An error occurred but
the error did not reach
and/or pain resulting
the patient (An "error therefrom.
of omission" does
reach the patient) Monitoring
To observe or record
relevant physiological
or psychological signs.
Category C: Intervention
An error occurred that
reached the patient but did May include change
not cause patient harm in therapy or active
medical/surgical
treatment.
Category D:
An error occurred that Intervention
reached the patient and Necessary to
required monitoring to
confirm that it resulted in no
Sustain Life
Category E: harm to the patient and/or Includes cardiovascular
An error occurred that required intervention to and respiratory support
may have contributed preclude harm
to or resulted in (e.g., CPR, defibrillation,
temporary harm to the intubation, etc.)
patient and required
intervention

2001 National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention. All Rights Reserved.
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