12% Error Rate for Computerized Prescribing Systems

New findings on computerized prescribing systems showed that 11.7 % of the prescriptions (about one in 10) contained a mistake; such as omissions of drug dose, duration, and frequency. Of 3,850 prescriptions assessed, 452 contained a total of 466 errors. The most common error—missing information—affected 60% of the 452 prescriptions. About one-third of the errors were considered potential adverse drug events. Computerized prescribing systems generate a document that can be faxed or hand carried to a pharmacy; they cannot electronically transmit a prescription to a pharmacy. The systems vary in their abilities, and the researchers noted . . .