Potential benefits and problems with computerized prescriber order entry: analysis of a voluntary medication error-reporting database

• HIT Description: Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) More info...
  
• Purpose of Study: To assess the potential benefits and problems associated with CPOE
  
• Years of study: 2003
  
• Study Design: Case control
  
• Outcomes: Impact on patient safety
  

• Settings: Over 500 US hospitals which reported medication errors into a national database voluntary medication error reporting database
• Intervention: Used Medmarx, a national voluntary error-reporting databases to compare medication error rates in hospitals with and without CPOE
• Evaluation Method: database analysis
• Description: Reporting of medication errors was anonymous, so there was no way to link data with type of CPOE system, vendor, length of use, of sophistication of clinical support
• Barriers: Despite use of CPOE, errors were caused by faulty computer interface, miscommunication with other sytems, and lack of adequate decision support. Many errors were due to provider distraction
• Quality of Care and Patient Safety Outcome: Facilities with CPOE reported fewer inpatient medication errors and more outpatient medication errors than facilities without CPOE, but the statistical significance could not be determined. Facilities with CPOE less frequently reported errors that actually reached patients or harmed patients.