Does Computerized Provider Order Entry Reduce Prescribing Errors for Hospital Inpatients? A Systematic Review -- Reckmann et al. 16 (5): 613 -- Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

First published June 30, 2009 as JAMIA PrePrint; doi:10.1197/jamia.M3050
This Article
J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2009;16:613-623. DOI 10.1197/jamia.M3050.
© 2009 American Medical Informatics Association

Does Computerized Provider Order Entry Reduce Prescribing Errors for Hospital Inpatients? A Systematic Review
Margaret H. Reckmann, BSc, BPharma, Johanna I. Westbrook, GradDipAppEpid, MHA, PhDa,*, Yvonne Koh, BPharm(Hons)a, Connie Lo, BPharm(Hons)a and Richard O. Day, MDb
a Health Informatics Research & Evaluation Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
b Clinical Pharmacology, St Vincent’s Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

* Correspondence: Professor J. Westbrook, Director, Health Informatics Research and Evaluation Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, PO Box 170, Lidcombe 1825, Sydney, Australia (Email: J.Westbrook@usyd.edu.au).

Received for publication: 10/23/08; accepted for publication: 05/13/09.

Abstract
Previous reviews have examined evidence of the impact of CPOE on medication errors, but have used highly variable definitions of "error". We attempted to answer a very focused question, namely, what evidence exists that CPOE systems reduce prescribing errors among hospital inpatients? We identified 13 papers (reporting 12 studies) published between 1998 and 2007. Nine demonstrated a significant reduction in prescribing error rates for all or some drug types. Few studies examined changes in error severity, but minor errors were most often reported as decreasing. Several studies reported increases in the rate of duplicate orders and failures to discontinue drugs, often attributed to inappropriate selection from a dropdown menu or to an inability to view all active medication orders concurrently. The evidence-base reporting the effectiveness of CPOE to reduce prescribing errors is not compelling and is limited by modest study sample sizes and designs. Future studies should include larger samples including multiple sites, controlled study designs, and standardized error and severity reporting. The role of decision support in minimizing severe prescribing error rates also requires investigation.

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Does Computerized Provider Order Entry Reduce Prescribing Errors for Hospital Inpatients? A Systematic Review -- Reckmann et al. 16 (5): 613 -- Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association