Despite extensive research and interventions, medication prescribing errors in hospital continue to occur. This review sought to identify prescribing errors and factors that facilitate or prevent prescribing errors. Prescribing errors were categorized as prescriber-, prescription-, technology-, or organization-related, or unclassified. Most errors were organization-related. The authors recommend examining facilitators and barriers to prescribing safety prior to implementing new interventions.

The potential for medication errors may increase due to redeployment and reorganization of hospital resources during COVID-19 surges. In this study of patients hospitalized during the first wave of the pandemic, over 90% had at least one prescribing error three months after hospitalization. Intensive care unit admission and a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma were risk factors for prescribing errors. Acknowledging and understanding these risk factors allows hospital leadership to target interventions for this population.

… Br J Clin Pharmacol … Br J Clin Pharmacol … This literature … standards to promote safer medication prescribing . … Brinkman DJ, Tichelaar J, Graaf S, Otten RHJ, Richir MC, van Agtmael MA. …