How to prevent look-alike and sound-alike drug errors
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Many drug names look or sound alike, such as hydroxyzine and hydralazine. Mixing them up can cause serious harm.
Step by step
Know the risky pairs
Learn the look-alike and sound-alike list used by your facility. [1]
Use tall man letters
Capital letters highlight the difference, for example hydrOXYzine and hydrALAzine. [2]
Store apart
Keep look-alike drugs in separate bins with warning labels. [1]
Include the indication
Writing the reason for the drug on the order helps catch a mix-up. [2]
Read back verbal orders
Repeat the order and spell the drug name. Use verbal orders only when needed. [1]
Check the rights
Compare the label with the order three times and scan the barcode before giving. [2]
Ask the patient
Tell the patient what you are giving and why. Stop if they say it looks different. [2]
Common errors
- Grabbing a drug by bin location alone.
- Not spelling names in verbal orders.
- Ignoring a patient who says the pill looks different.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
Facts and steps follow The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.