Technology Utilization to Prevent Medication Errors

Abstract

Medication errors have been increasingly recognized as a major cause of iatrogenic illness and system-wide improvements have been the focus of prevention efforts. Critically ill patients are particularly vulnerable to injury resulting from medication errors because of the severity of illness, need for high risk medications with a narrow therapeutic index and frequent use of intravenous infusions. Health information technology has been identified as method to reduce medication errors as well as improve the efficiency and quality of care; however, few studies regarding the impact of health information technology have focused on patients in the intensive care unit. Computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems can play a crucial role in decreasing errors in the ordering stage of the medication use process through improving the completeness and legibility of orders, alerting physicians to medication allergies and drug interactions and providing a means for standardization of practice. Electronic surveillance, reminders and alerts identify patients susceptible to an adverse event, communicate critical changes in a patient's condition, and facilitate timely and appropriate treatment. Bar code technology, intravenous infusion safety systems, and electronic medication administration records can target prevention of errors in medication dispensing and administration where other technologies would not be able to intercept a preventable adverse event. Systems integration and compliance are vital components in the implementation of health information technology and achievement of a safe medication use process.

National Survey of Hospital Medication Safety Practice during Mass Gathering (Hajj-2016) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: Drug Information

“…Several reports stated that is using altering system prevent medication errors and adverse drug reaction. [8][9] ISMP had excellent tools for self-assessment to check medication safety at hospitals. The author surveyed that, and they found the general score same as what done in 2000, and less than what reported in started Answered question =11 and skipped question= 0 [3] Using of computerized drug information database as part of Computerized Physician order entry existed almost in Saudi Arabia hospitals but less than the percentage of USA hospitals.…”

Eventos adversos hospitalarios en medicina interna: estudio prospectivo

“…Ordenes médicas informatizadas 159,160 : La informatización de las órdenes médicas se refiere a una variedad de sistemas basados en el procesamiento electrónico que facilitan el proceso de solicitud de los medicamentos. Estos se han mejorado aún más con la integración de los sistemas de apoyo de decisiones clínicas.…”

“…Cuando la prescripción tiene una interfaz electrónica con un registro de la administración se elimina la necesidad de la transcripción. Por tanto se evitan los errores causados por la interpretación y traducción 157,159 .…”

A Pharmacy Blueprint for Electronic Medical Record Implementation Success

“…9,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Barcode scanning technology supports a majority of the Nine Rights 22 of the medication administration process. Post implementation, we have observed a significant, sustained 45% reduction in medication errors related to right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, and right route as reported through our Web-based, spontaneous, incident reporting system.…”