Introduction
Network members identified and discussed the management of prescribing errors, both from a benefit perspective of reducing errors seen on paper charts, but also from a cautionary point of view, ensuring that system build, and workflow supports safe and effective prescribing. Management of prescribing errors was discussed, including how to ensure an open reporting culture and learning from lessons and incidents could be managed in practice.
What peers in the network found
Managing new errors
New errors, such as selection errors. For example, a clinician selecting the wrong option on the system e.g. medication to be given 4 times a day rather than 5 times a day. This would be unlikely to happen with handwritten prescriptions.
Planning Alerts
Too many alerts and too few alerts – this balance is hard to get right and needs time factored in for planning and monitoring.
There is extra work to be done
Unlike a handwritten prescription, the use of ePrescribing need complete order sentences which can be seen as extra work by the clinicians.
Mandatory checks
Mandatory defined fields not completed properly e.g symbol in place of comments/ information.
What to read
Long reads
The influence of computerized decision support on prescribing during ward-rounds: are the decision-makers targeted?
The impact of a hospital electronic prescribing and medication administration system on medication administration safety: an observational study