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A clinical information system reduces medication errors in paediatric intensive care

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effect of electronic prescribing (EP) with a clinical information system (Intellivue Clinical Information Portfolio, Philips, UK) on prescribing errors and omitted doses in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods

Prospective audit of prescribing errors and omitted doses for 96 h periods in three epochs: (1) before implementation of EP, (2) 1 week and (3) 6 months later.

Results

There was a non-significant reduction in prescribing errors: 8.8% (95% CI 4.4–13.2) pre-implementation of EP versus 8.1% (4.4–11.8) 1 week after implementation and 4.6% (2.0–7.2) 6 months later. The prevalence of omitted doses decreased significantly 6 months following implementation, changing from 8.1% (5.8–10.4) pre-implementation to 10.6% (6.5–14.7) 1 week after implementation and 1.4% (CI 0–2.8%) 6 months after implementation (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

EP within a clinical information system increases medication safety in a PICU.

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Acknowledgments

Dr Inwald is grateful for support from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding scheme. The Centre for Medication Safety and Service Quality is affiliated to the Centre for Patient Safety and Service Quality at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust which is funded by the National Institute of Health Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare Trust, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY, UK

    Catherine Warrick & Susan Avis

  2. Department of Practice and Policy, School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK

    Hetal Naik & Bryony Dean Franklin

  3. Pharmacy Department, St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Heathcare NHS Trust, Praed Street, London, W2 1NY, UK

    Penny Fletcher

  4. Centre for Medication Safety and Service Quality, Pharmacy Department, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, W6 8RF, UK

    Bryony Dean Franklin

  5. Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College (St Mary’s Campus), Wright-Fleming Institute, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK

    David Inwald

Authors
  1. Catherine Warrick
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  2. Hetal Naik
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  3. Susan Avis
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  4. Penny Fletcher
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  5. Bryony Dean Franklin
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  6. David Inwald
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Inwald.

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Warrick, C., Naik, H., Avis, S. et al. A clinical information system reduces medication errors in paediatric intensive care. Intensive Care Med 37, 691–694 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-010-2126-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-010-2126-8

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