CPOE Systems Likely to Miss Medication Errors
Computerized Physician Order Entry systems are being introduced in more and more hospitals in order to streamline processes and reduce medication errors. However, according to a new Leapfrog report, these systems may actually miss approximately half of all routine medication orders, and approximately one in three of all potentially fatal medication orders.
Those results came out of a study that Leapfrog conducted to test how CPOE systems were able to detect errors. Leapfrog invited 214 hospitals to test their CPOE systems using a web simulation program it developed. The program showed that these systems missed an average of about 50% of routine medication orders and about a third of all potentially fatal orders. The tests were conducted between June of 2008 and January 2010.
According to Leapfrog, even though this was a simulated test, the results should be a warning to hospitals around the country that are using CPOE systems. In far too many hospitals, the systems are simply installed under the false belief that they will automatically catch medication errors and improve patient safety. The Leapfrog people are recommending that hospitals and CPOE vendors work together to ensure the continued effectiveness and efficacy of the CPOE systems.
However, the Leapfrog report also found that when the hospitals adjusted their protocols and processes, and then retested using the same simulation program, they saw a significant improvement in the performance of these systems. Leapfrog is recommending that every hospital that uses the systems include evaluation and testing as part of its overall quality control processes.
More hospitals are moving to install CPOE systems lured by the promise of federal financial assistance to hospitals that do so. Leapfrog is asking that federal legislation incorporate quality control monitoring of the systems in order to be eligible for financial aid.
The Indiana medical malpractice attorneys at Theodoros and Rooth represent injured victims of surgical errors, misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose, emergency room errors, medication errors and other forms of medical malpractice around Indiana.
