372: Do Computerized Medication Alerts Change Medication Orders In the Emergency Department

Abstract

One reported advantage of electronic medical record (EMR) and computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems is the availability and use of automated clinical decision support alerts to reduce medication errors. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of EMR automated medication alerts, such as patient allergy and drug-drug interaction alerts, and to determine if such alerts result in changes in CPOE medication orders and patient care in the emergency department (ED). We hypothesized that emergency physicians would change their CPOE medication order in the majority of cases where a medication alert occurred, and more frequently with allergy alerts.