Question

How can eliminating abbreviations reduce errors?

Answer 1

Take a look at this lengthy list of medical abbreviations. Forty alone begin with A.

http://www.globalrph.com/abbrev.htm

One letter difference in abbreviations signifies two entirely different conditions.

Answer 2

The same abbreviation can mean more than one thing. For example

IPA - India Pale Ale
IPA - Iodoplatinic acid
IPA - Isopropyl alchol

If a patient had swollowed 1 litre of the first IPA, you might not be too concerned, similarly a few mls of the the last, but the middle compound is quite toxic.

There is also habit of talking in abbreviations as if they are words, or making up a word by adding a vowel, e.g. RiMS and ReMS for RMS. These can be misheard or the abbreviation might mean two different things to different people.