How To Discover And Evaluate Technological Innovations that Reduce Prescribing Errors

Errors in prescribing happen really often and for different sorts of reasons. Errors in prescribing can happen when the wrong drug is selected by the doctor or when the drug is too complex. These types of medication errors can be fatal to a patient. Several factors have been associated with an increased risk of prescribing errors, including the use of multiple medications, the presence of chronic illnesses, age-related changes, and cognitive impairment. Additionally, prescribing errors are more common in busy, high-stress environments, such as emergency departments or critical care settings.

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To reduce the occurrence of prescribing errors, healthcare professionals should focus on improving communication, enhancing their knowledge and skills, using technology, and creating a culture of safety that values error prevention and reporting.

Prescribing Errors Are a Healthcare Worldwide Issue

In 2000, an expert group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, reported that since 1985, people ( usually children ) had been killed because of the wrong administration of drugs. The prevalence and types of prescribing errors can vary depending on the healthcare system, culture, and socioeconomic factors

 A study published in 2016 found that prescribing errors affected 11.5% of patients in the United States, and 3.3% of these errors were potentially harmful. Common errors included incorrect dosages, drug interactions, and drug omissions.

 In the United Kingdom, prescribing errors are estimated to affect 7% of prescriptions, with errors being more common in elderly patients and those with multiple chronic conditions.

 A study published in 2019 found that prescribing errors affected 8.7% of prescriptions in Saudi Arabia, with incorrect dosages and incomplete patient information being common errors.

 In Africa, prescribing errors are prevalent due to a lack of resources and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Errors are often due to poor-quality medicines, inadequate training of healthcare professionals, and insufficient drug regulation.

How Can We Prevent These Dangerous Prescribing Errors

To prevent prescription drug errors, we must know why they happen in the first place. Prescription errors can occur due to a lack of knowledge or understanding of medication dosages, drug interactions, and appropriate prescribing practices. Inexperienced healthcare professionals or those with insufficient training in pharmacology may be at a higher risk of making prescribing errors.

When we are feeling ill, we can’t really afford to think about this stuff. You almost feel like, “I, as a patient, shouldn’t have to even think about this; it’s not my job.” The reality is that even if it’s the doctor’s job to take care of your health, it is also your duty to be cautious, and the good news is that you don’t need to finish medical school to take care of your well-being.

Seek Out Second Opinions

Taking second medical opinions can be a useful way to ensure that you receive the best possible care and treatment for your medical condition. A second opinion can help you learn about different treatment options that may be available to you. This can be particularly helpful if you have been given a treatment plan that you are uncertain about or if you have been told that there are no further treatment options available. Seeking a second opinion can provide you with peace of mind and a sense of control over your healthcare. It can help you feel more confident in your treatment decisions and ensure that you are receiving the best possible care.

Check the Reviews and Do Some Research

A literature review can help you identify existing research on technological innovations that have been successful in reducing prescribing errors. You can start by searching academic databases, such as Google Scholar, for articles or studies related to prescribing errors and technology. There are many industry publications and websites that report on new technological innovations in healthcare. These sources can provide valuable information on the latest trends and advances in medication safety technology.

Look For Technology Vendors

There are many technology vendors that offer solutions related to drug information, including drug reference databases, drug interaction checkers, and medication management systems. Drug information can change rapidly, as new research emerges, or regulatory agencies update their guidelines. By using multiple sources, you can ensure that you have access to the most up-to-date information. Using different platforms or resources to check information about drugs, you will learn more at PrescriberPoint or MedlinePlus, as they allow you to verify information, access different types of information, stay updated with current information, and avoid bias and conflicts of interest. Many technology vendors offer product demonstrations and trials of their solutions. These demonstrations can provide a first-hand look at how the technology works and its potential benefits. Technological innovations have significantly improved healthcare practices, including the reduction of prescribing errors.

Get Familiar with Some Technological Innovations that Reduce Prescribing Errors

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• Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems: CPOE systems allow healthcare providers to enter medication orders directly into an electronic system, reducing the risk of errors that can occur with handwritten prescriptions. CPOE systems can also incorporate clinical decision support tools that alert providers to potential drug interactions or other safety concerns.
• Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems: E-prescribing systems allow healthcare providers to send prescriptions directly to pharmacies electronically, reducing the risk of errors that can occur with handwritten prescriptions. E-prescribing systems can also incorporate clinical decision support tools that alert providers to potential drug interactions or other safety concerns.
• Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS): CDSS uses algorithms and other decision-making tools to provide healthcare providers with real-time information about potential drug interactions, dosing errors, and other safety concerns. CDSS can be integrated with CPOE and e-prescribing systems to provide a comprehensive approach to medication safety.

Conclusion

Finding and evaluating technological innovations that can help reduce prescribing errors requires careful consideration of the needs of the healthcare organization, the specific prescribing errors that are common in the practice, and the potential benefits and costs of the technology. The use of electronic prescribing, computerized order entry, and decision support systems can help reduce the risk of prescribing errors. These technologies can improve the accuracy of medication orders, identify potential drug interactions and allergies, and provide real-time information on dosages and medication instructions.