Electronic health records in hospitals: Preventing dosing errors in the medication administration context

Abstract

Medication errors are among the highest contributors to complications during a hospital stay. Dosing errors have an impact on the detrimental effects of a medication error. While clinical decision support systems have targeted prescribing errors, the system design challenges associated with dosing error prevention in the medication administration context is not well understood. This paper presents an overview of the effectiveness of current systems used in the medication delivery process. The system enhancement strategies to improve dosing error detection and prevention in the medication administration context should consider the medication safety loopholes in the electronic health record (EHR).