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Reducing prescribing errors: Making electronic prescribing work for cystic fibrosis inpatients

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Matthew Thomas, Dr Yincent TseORCiD

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Abstract

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.Children admitted to our hospital with cystic fibrosis had frequent medication errors due to polypharmacy and addition of specialist and high-risk medications despite an electronic prescribing and medicines administration system in place. We describe a multidisciplinary quality improvement project that combined a computerised order entry system (CPOE) with human factor process changes. Over 12 months, our run chart showed a 43% reduction in prescription errors. For medications prescribable via the CPOE, errors reaching the patient reduced from 50% to 29%. Electronic prescribing can be seen by clinicians as a fixed unalterable system contributing to rather than ameliorating errors. Improving safety requires whole team engagement and working closely with programmers to adapt function and influence human factors.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Vittery ER, Bayliss E, Heed A, Fagan C, Thomas M, Tse Y

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Archives of Disease in Childhood: Education and Practice Edition

Year: 2022

Volume: 108

Issue: 2

Online publication date: 09/03/2022

Acceptance date: 11/02/2022

ISSN (print): 1743-0585

ISSN (electronic): 1743-0593

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2021-322446

DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322446

PubMed id: 35264442

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