The adoption of computerized order entry systems in hospitals substantially reduces the risk of medication errors, according to a new study.
The study, called Reduction in Medical Errors in Hospitals Due to Adoption of Computerized Provider Order Entry Systems, aimed to derive a nationally representative estimate of medication error reduction in hospitals attributable to electronic prescribing through computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems. It found that processing a prescription drug order through a CPOE system decreases the likelihood of error on that order by 48 per cent.
Dr Lauren Olsho, a senior associate with policy consultants and researchers ABT Associates, was one of the authors of the report. She said that the study makes the case for increased adoption of CPOE systems in US healthcare.
“We have a cautious recommendation for expansion based on the results, with the caveat that there were some studies that indicated harm that can arise from CPOE systems, which were incorporated into our analysis. There needs to be a little bit more study of those unanticipated adverse consequences,” she said.
“One of the big take home messages from this study is that we still have a long way to go both in terms of adoption and in terms of understanding the consequences. I think we really see this as a call for additional rigorous studies of these types of systems and their effects.”
Computerized entry systems, Computerized Provider Order Entry Systems(CPOE), medical errors, risk management
