[Updated classification for medication errors by the Ruiz-Jarabo 2000 Group]

To update the classification system created by the Ruiz-Jarabo 2000 group to standardize detection, analysis, and recording of medication errors, with the aim of improving its capacity and functionality.

The classification update was carried out by the Ruiz-Jarabo 2000 working group considering: a) other classifications used by incident reporting systems initiated after the original version had been created; b) suggestions offered by healthcare professionals with respect to the original version; and c) the experiences of the working group itself based on analyses of medication errors gathered in hospitals, and on analyses of reports notified to the ISMP-Spain medication error reporting and learning program.

This article presents the updated version of the medication error classification system and describes the main changes made on to the different sections and categories.

The new version may prove to be a useful tool for analyzing and reporting errors with regard to those detected within the framework of activities for improving safety in hospitals and primary care, as well as for those detected as a direct result of patient safety research. Thus, this document is expected to improve medication safety information management in such a way as to allow data to be used ever more efficiently for making medication use systems safer for patients.