Errors reduced by automated medicines management system
Ward-based automated dispensing is part of the ServeRx system |
Prescribing and medicine administration errors are reduced by the use of an integrated electronic medicines management system, recent research shows.
Analysis of the impact of the ServeRx system (manufactured by MDG Medical),
which combines electronic prescribing with automated dispensing, bar-coded
administration and an electronic administration record, has shown that
prescribing and administration errors are reduced by almost half.
Data were collected three to six months before installation of the system
at a London teaching hospital, and six to 12 months afterwards. Prescribing
errors were reduced by 47 per cent (from 3.8 per cent to 2 per cent)
and the researchers say that a further reduction may be possible with
additional decision support.
They say: “It may be that the errors avoided are those that pharmacists
usually correct, but electronic prescribing ensures that they are always
correct before the first dose is due and has the potential to allow pharmacists
to concentrate on other aspects of the usage of medicines.”
Non-intravenous administration errors were reduced by 39 per cent, predominantly
wrong dose and omission errors. The researchers say this is likely to
be due to the design of the automated dispensing system and trolley,
giving nursing staff access only to the product prescribed.
Nurse checking of patient identity was also found to increase and may
have resulted in more prescribing errors being corrected before administration.
The time spent by pharmacy and medical staff dealing with medicines increased,
although the nursing time spent on drug rounds was reduced.
The researchers note that it is important to estimate the harm avoided by such
systems, which may be disproportionate to the reduction in errors (Quality
and
Safety in Health Care 2007;16:279).
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Hospital
Pharmacist