This analysis sought to characterize how physicians and nurses acquire information about medication prescribing. Physicians rarely elicited medication prescribing advice from individuals and more frequently referred to paper or computerized resources. A ward with a better information-sharing network had fewer medication errors, highlighting the value of interprofessional information-sharing as a critical component of safety culture.

Although use of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) is increasingly widespread, implementation in the busy environment of the emergency department (ED) is still relatively new. This systematic review of the effectiveness of CPOE in the ED found that, consistent with other systematic reviews, it did reduce medication prescribing errors. However, few studies assessed the effect of CPOE on clinician workflow, and there was no clear impact on patient safety. The unique patient safety issues in the ED are discussed in an AHRQ WebM&M perspective.