Effect of Computerized Provider Order Entry on Rate of Medication Errors in a Community Hospital Setting

Abstract

Purpose Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) has been shown to reduce medication error rates by as much as 55%. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of CPOE on the rate of medication errors at a not-for-profit community hospital. Methods A prospective, observational study was conducted utilizing a pharmacist-driven concurrent data collection tool to evaluate all medication errors intercepted by each pharmacist. The survey was conducted for 3 separate 1-week periods: once prior to CPOE implementation and twice post CPOE implementation. The primary outcome was the rate of medication errors reported via the pharmacist concurrent data collection tool pre and post CPOE. The secondary outcomes included the errors reported through a hospitalwide, self-reported adverse medication event system, the types of errors, and error severity. Results A statistically significant 41% reduction ( P < .01) in the rate of errors 3 months following CPOE implementation was observed. The secondary outcome of self-reported medication errors per adjusted patient day decreased significantly with a 25% reduction ( P < .05). The type of errors reported by the pharmacists changed notably pre and post CPOE implementation; however the severity of the reported errors did not change. Conclusion CPOE decreased the rate of medication errors at our community hospital 3 months post CPOE implementation. Errors were increased at 1 month post CPOE implementation, but not significantly. The types of errors changed post CPOE implementation, but distribution of error severity was unchanged.