Impact of Computerized Physician Order Entry on Medication Prescription Errors in the Intensive Care Unit: a Controlled Cross-Sectional Trial.

Impact of Computerized Physician Order Entry on Medication Prescription Errors in the Intensive Care Unit: a Controlled Cross-Sectional Trial.

Device: computerized physician order entry.

We wanted to investigate if the introduction of a computerized intensive care unit system reduced the incidence and severity of medication prescription errors (MPEs). A prospective trial was conducted during 5 weeks in a paper-based unit versus a computerized unit. The registration of different classes of MPEs was done by a clinical pharmacist. An independent panel evaluated the severity of MPEs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adult Patients admitted to other units
• Pediatric patients