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Search results for "Hospitals"

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Journal Article > Study

Acceptability and feasibility of the Leapfrog computerized physician order entry evaluation tool for hospitals outside the United States.

Cho I, Lee JH, Choi SK, Choi JW, Hwang H, Bates DW. Int J Med Inform. 2015;84:694-701.

Applying the Leapfrog computerized provider order entry evaluation tool to four hospitals in South Korea exposed many opportunities for improvement. Although initially there was concern that national differences in drug prescription patterns might make the tool, which was developed for practices in the United States, unreliable, researchers found sufficient overlap to successfully complete the evaluation.

Journal Article > Study

We thought we would be perfect: medication errors before and after the initiation of computerized physician order entry.

Schwartzberg D, Ivanovic S, Patel S, Burjonrappa SC. J Surg Res. 2015;198:108-114.

This pre-post study found an increase in medication prescribing errors following the introduction of computerized provider order entry. This work adds to the growing literature about unintended consequences of electronic prescribing, highlighting the need for real-time error detection.

Journal Article > Study

Reducing warfarin medication interactions: an interrupted time series evaluation.

Feldstein AC, Smith DH, Perrin N, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1009-1015.

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of computerized alerts in reducing co-prescribing of warfarin and interacting medications. They found that the alerts had a modest impact on minimizing this potentially dangerous behavior.

Award

22 California hospitals earn top status for outstanding patient safety & health care quality.

San Francisco, CA: The Leapfrog Group; May 2, 2006.

This news release announces that 22 California hospitals have been recognized for their achievements in addressing The Leapfrog Group's standards of quality and safety.

Journal Article > Study

Prescription errors related to the use of computerized provider order-entry system for pediatric patients.

Alhanout K, Bun SS, Retornaz K, Chiche L, Colombini N. Int J Med Inform. 2017;103:15-19.

Computerized provider order entry has been shown to decrease adverse drug events, but it can also introduce new medication errors. This retrospective study examined medication ordering errors intercepted by pharmacists for pediatric patients. As with prior studies in pediatrics, this investigation uncovered dosing errors associated with weight-based dosing, including calculation errors and missing weight information. The most common medication associated with errors was acetaminophen, which can cause severe harm if incorrectly dosed. The authors call for improving electronic health record prescribing interfaces, better user training, and enhancing communication among providers to prevent medication errors.

Journal Article > Study

Analysis of variations in the display of drug names in computerized prescriber-order-entry systems.

Quist AJL, Hickman TT, Amato MG, et al. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2017;74:499-509.

Evidence suggests that computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems improve medication safety by mitigating prescribing errors. However, CPOE systems may contribute to errors when user-centered design is not taken into account. In this study, researchers standardized the assessment of 10 distinct inpatient and ambulatory CPOE systems across 6 health care institutions to determine how variation in drug name display may increase the risk of medication errors. Using test patient scenarios, they found significant variation in drug name display, including inconsistencies with regard to the display of brand and generic names. Providers could theoretically prescribe both the brand and generic drug, increasing the risk for patient harm. A recent Annual Perspective discussed the benefits and limitations of CPOE with regard to patient safety.

Journal Article > Review

Impact of commercial computerized provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) on medication errors, length of stay, and mortality in intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Prgomet M, Li L, Niazkhani Z, Georgiou A, Westbrook JI. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2017;24:413-422.

While prior research has shown that computerized provider order entry and clinical decision support systems have the potential to improve patient safety, less is known about the impact of such systems in intensive care units. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, investigators found an 85% decrease in prescribing errors and a 12% reduction in ICU mortality rates in critical care units that converted from paper orders to commercially available computerized provider order entry systems.

Journal Article > Study

Learning from errors: analysis of medication order voiding in CPOE systems.

Kannampallil TG, Abraham J, Solotskaya A, et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2017 Feb 17; [Epub ahead of print].

Although computerized provider order entry has been found to prevent some medication errors, simulation studies have also demonstrated that electronic prescribing platforms can introduce or fail to prevent medication errors. This retrospective electronic health record analysis examined medication orders that were canceled. Weekend and overnight orders were less likely to be voided than weekday or daytime orders. Pharmacist, nurse, and student orders were more likely to be canceled than physician orders. Comparing the clinician-provided reason for voiding an order with the more comprehensive information in the medical record, physicians found that clinicians' reported reasons for voiding orders were largely inaccurate. The authors suggest there is unrealized potential to characterize medication ordering errors using voided-order data.

Journal Article > Study

Impact of the introduction of electronic prescribing on staff perceptions of patient safety and organizational culture.

Davies J, Pucher PH, Ibrahim H, Stubbs B. J Surg Res. 2017;212:222-228.

Although computerized provider order entry systems are widely implemented, a prior review suggests that their ability to reduce adverse drug events remains uncertain. Less is known about their impact on safety culture. Researchers administered a modified Safety Attitudes Questionnaire survey 6 weeks after the implementation of an electronic prescribing system across surgical services at one hospital and found a decline in safety culture.

Journal Article > Study

Exploring the roots of unintended safety threats associated with the introduction of hospital ePrescribing systems and candidate avoidance and/or mitigation strategies: a qualitative study.

Mozaffar H, Cresswell KM, Williams R, Bates DW, Sheikh A. BMJ Qual Saf. 2017 Feb 7; [Epub ahead of print].

Although computerized provider order entry is known to reduce medication errors, previous research has demonstrated that electronic prescribing can introduce new medication safety risks. This observational qualitative study of electronic prescribing at six British hospitals included direct observation, interviews, and analysis of implementation documents. Investigators determined multiple unintended consequences of electronic prescribing, at every stage of use, and identified design flaws in electronic prescribing platforms. Suboptimal implementation of electronic prescribing, with partial functionality and insufficient training, increased risk of errors. Once electronic prescribing was in place, prescribers started using workarounds and relied too much on the prescribing platform. The authors call for design and organizational strategies to mitigate these safety concerns. A past WebM&M commentary described a medication error related to electronic prescribing.

Journal Article > Study

EHR-related medication errors in two ICUs.

Carayon P, Du S, Brown R, Cartmill R, Johnson M, Wetterneck TB. J Healthc Risk Manag. 2017;36:6-15.

Despite the demonstrated success of technology in reducing medication errors, preventable adverse drug events remain a significant source of harm to patients. Researchers analyzed data on medication safety events in 2 ICUs at a medical center and found 1622 preventable adverse drug events among 624 patients. About one third of these events were related to electronic health record use, including duplicate orders.

Journal Article > Commentary

Medication safety in the neonatal intensive care unit: big measures for our smallest patients.

Rostas SE. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2017;31:15-19.

Medication errors are common in the neonatal intensive care unit. This commentary outlines various strategies one teaching hospital has utilized to reduce risks of medication errors in this care setting, such as use of computerized provider order entry and smart pumps.

Book/Report

Electronically Generated Medication Administration and Electronic Medication Administration Records for the Prevention of Medication Transcription Errors: Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Safety.

Ottawa, ON: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2016.

Use of medication administration technologies can reduce transcription errors. This review examined computerized order entry systems, barcode medication administration systems, and other tools that can prevent medication transcription errors.

Journal Article > Study

Pediatric medication safety in adult community hospital settings: a glimpse into nationwide practice.

Alvarez F, Ismail L, Markowsky A. Hosp Pediatr. 2016;6:744-749.

This survey study found that most pediatric hospitalist programs use computerized provider order entry with weight-based medication dosing, review medication safety events and near misses, require weight-based prescribing, and have maximum doses in place. Larger hospitals are more likely to have a pediatric pharmacist. Variation in medication safety practices suggests that best practices remain incompletely implemented.

Cases & Commentaries

Unexpected Drawbacks of Electronic Order Sets

  • Web M&M

John D. McGreevey III, MD; November 2016

A transition from paper orders to CPOE left out an important safety reminder, resulting in mismanagement of an elderly patient's low potassium and magnesium levels. This led to a fatal arrhythmia. The paper-based electrolyte order set had provided a reminder that magnesium replacement should accompany potassium replacement; however, in the computerized system, a separate order set was necessary for each electrolyte.

Cases & Commentaries

Unintended Consequences of CPOE

  • Spotlight Case
  • CME/CEU
  • Web M&M

Robert L. Wears, MD, PhD; October 2016

While attempting to order a CT scan with only oral contrast for a patient with poor kidney function, an intern ordering a CT for the first time selected "with contrast" from the list, not realizing that meant both oral and intravenous contrast. The patient developed contrast nephropathy.

Journal Article > Study

Computerized prescriber order entry–related patient safety reports: analysis of 2522 medication errors.

Amato MG, Salazar A, Hickman TT, et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2017;24:316-322.

Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems can effectively prevent many prescribing errors, but their overall safety benefit has not yet been fully realized. More widespread implementation of these systems has revealed new safety concerns. A prior study funded by the US Food and Drug Administration found that many of the safety issues associated with CPOE could be ascribed to poor usability of the systems, the lack of interoperability, and failure to track and learn from concerns identified by users. This follow-up study analyzed more than 1300 CPOE error reports to further classify the types of errors and their impact on patient care. Investigators determined that patients experienced delays in receiving medications due to these errors and were at risk of receiving duplicate medications or incorrect doses of medications. Similar to previous studies, the most common types of CPOE errors included problems with transmitting orders to the correct site of care, incorrect dose, or duplicate orders that were not detected by the system. A WebM&M commentary discussed an error that led to patient harm due to an incorrect default CPOE order.

Newspaper/Magazine Article

Prescribing errors that cause harm.

Rider BB, Gaunt MJ, Grissinger M. PA-PSRS Patient Saf Advis. September 2016;13:81-91.

Prescribing errors can have harmful results. Analyzing prescribing error reports submitted over a 12- year period, this article recommends strategies to reduce risks associated with prescribing, including use of computerized provider order entry systems and standard order sets.

Journal Article > Review

Effects of health information technology on patient outcomes: a systematic review.

  • Classic

Brenner SK, Kaushal R, Grinspan Z, et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2016;23:1016-1036.

Health information technology (IT) has had a profound impact on health care. Although health IT has led to efficiency gains and improved safety, unintended consequences remain a concern. In this systematic review, researchers analyzed 69 studies from 2001 through 2012 that examined the use of health IT in a clinical setting and its effect on safety outcomes for patients. About one-third of the studies demonstrated a positive impact of health IT on patient safety outcomes, but many of these focused on the hospital setting, involved a single institution, and looked at decision support or computerized provider order entry. The authors suggest that future studies should focus on other areas in which the impact of health IT remains understudied, such as in outpatient and long-term care settings, and they underscore the need for higher quality research. A recent WebM&M commentary described the unintended consequences of health IT.

Journal Article > Review

A systematic review of the types and causes of prescribing errors generated from using computerized provider order entry systems in primary and secondary care.

Brown CL, Mulcaster HL, Triffitt KL, et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2017;24:432-440.

The use of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems, in which clinicians place orders for tests, labs, and medications electronically, has grown rapidly in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Although research has shown that implementation of CPOE can reduce prescribing errors in both inpatient and outpatient settings, additional studies have found that errors continue to occur. In this systematic review, researchers identified multiple factors linked to CPOE prescribing errors, including flaws in functional design and underlying clinical decision support systems, as well as insufficient system flexibility leading to user workarounds. The authors suggest that further consideration must be given to human factors design principles. A recent Annual Perspective highlighted some of the ongoing challenges associated with CPOE.

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