EMRs: Study Shows Computer Errors Exceed Handwriting Errors

admin — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:54:05 -0400

The U.S. Pharmacopoeia's 5th annual study of medical errors reports that errors in electronic order submission have actually exceeded errors made by handwriting.

U.S. Report: The number of errors in electronic order submission have actually exceeded errors made by handwriting. "With powerful and capable software, we have yet to achieve the quality and safety improvements that are at our fingertips..."
U.S. Pharmacopoeia, 5th Annual study/James Feldbaum, M.D.

Surprising results from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia show that the number of errors made with e-prescribing have actually exceeded the number of errors from handwritten prescriptions. In the July edition of Healthcare Informatics, James Feldbaum, M.D., takes a pointed look at the use of Computerized Physician Order Entry, or CPOE, and its effect on the quality of patient care. "With powerful and capable software, we have yet to achieve the quality and safety improvements that are at our fingertips..." he states. In this well-written commentary he examines cutting edge technology and demonstrates that the implementation of software, in and of itself, will not be enough to get us to effective and safe electronic medical records.

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EMRs: Study Shows Computer Errors Exceed Handwriting Errors