In the context of medication safety, what does the term "high-alert medication" refer to?

The term "high-alert medication" refers specifically to medications that carry a higher risk of causing significant harm if they are used incorrectly. This classification includes drugs that can lead to severe patient injury or death if dosed incorrectly, administered improperly, or if there is a misunderstanding in their use.

High-alert medications often require additional precautions to ensure their safety. This may involve implementing specific protocols, extra checks or balances, or requiring additional education for healthcare personnel administering these medications. By focusing on high-alert medications, healthcare settings aim to reduce the incidence of medication errors and enhance patient safety.

In contrast, the other options describe characteristics of medications that do not correlate with the inherent risks associated with administration errors. For example, medications with minimal side effects might be safer to use, but that does not make them "high-alert." Similarly, the cost of medications or the need for supervision has no direct bearing on their safety profile in terms of potential harm if mismanaged.