Using information technology to reduce rates of medication errors in pediatric hospitals

Abstract

Medication errors are a common and serious problem in pediatric hospitals. Information technology can be a powerful prevention strategy for medication errors. Some examples of information technology interventions include computerized physician order entry, computerized decision support, bar coding, automated dispensing devices and computerized medication administration records. During this presentation these applications, particularly computerized physician order entry, will be explored as potential tools to decrease serious pediatric medication errors. Learning objectives: 1. Describe the epidemiology of pediatric medication errors. 2. Describe information technology interventions to decrease pediatric medication errors. 3. Describe computerized physician order entry with decision support in detail. Self assessment questions: True or False: 1. Most serious pediatric medication errors are not preventable. 2. Most serious pediatric medication errors occur at the stage of physician ordering. 3. Designing and implementing computerized physician order entry is more complex for pediatric patients compared to adult patients. Answers: 1. F; 2. T; 3. T.