Using Electronic Health Record Technology to Teach Inpatient Medication Order Verification to Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Objective. To measure Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students' confidence and assess their performance when processing inpatient medication orders, and to determine students' opinions regarding electronic health record (EHR) technology. Methods. Using an EHR platform, students processed inpatient medication orders during two laboratory sessions and one assessment. Each student was assigned one unique patient per session and was given three inpatient orders to process. Medication errors were randomly imbedded in the medication orders. Students needed to determine if the order was acceptable or required flagging because of an identified error. Pre- and post-activity surveys were administered to assess students' level of confidence and perceptions regarding the simulated EHR activities. Aggregate performance scores were compared between a cohort of PharmD students that used an EHR for the activity versus those who completed the activity the previous year using a paper-based medication form. Results. One hundred eight of 158 students (68%) in the course had pre- and post-activity survey data that could be paired. Less than one quarter (24%) of students had prior work experience in a hospital setting. For the medication verification questions, the confidence levels of students who used the EHR doubled and in some cases tripled pre- and post-EHR implementation. In each of the areas surveyed, results for all medication order processing statements were significant. Student performance improved significantly compared with that of those who completed the activity the previous year using a paper-based medication form. Post-EHR implementation, a significantly lower number of students felt that learning to use EHR technology would prepare them for advanced pharmacy practice experiences. Conclusion. Exposure to EHR technology improved PharmD students' confidence and performance scores related to processing inpatient medication orders. These findings support the continued use of an EHR platform in skills-based activities.