|
Computers Contribute to Medication Errors According to USP Report
Posted by
Rosemary Gafner
on
Saturday, April 29, 2006 (UMST)
Computerization and automation of prescriptions fourth leading cause of medication errors...
|
|
Despite the perception that technology will improve patient safety and reduce medication errors, almost 20% of hospital and health system medication errors reported to the United States Pharmacopeia's (USP) MEDMARX program in 2003 involved computerization or automation, according to MEDMARX 5th anniversary data report. Computer entry errors (errors that occur when incorrect or incomplete information is entered into a computer system) were the fourth leading cause of medication errors according to the MEDMARX data. According to the report nearly 75% of these errors occur after an order is written but before the medication is administered to the patient.
|
|