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March 20, 2010

ifroehlich

Electronic Prescribing Improves Medication Safety in Community-Based Office Practices

**The study participants used Rcopia by DrFirst as the e-prescribing application**
Excerpt from study:

Types of Prescribing Errors

E-prescribing variably decreased all types of prescribing errors. At baseline, the most common errors made by adopters were inappropriate abbreviations and duration errors. Examples are shown in Table 5. Duration and directions errors were most frequent among adopters at follow-up.

Examples of Prescribing Errors and Near Misses

Medication Errors

  • Lortisone® cream (Betamethasone and Clotramizole cream) is prescribed without a frequency for application
  • Amoxicillin 500 mg is prescribed with length of treatment omitted
  • Ketoconazole 2% antifungal cream is prescribed with directions for use omitted
  • Rhinocort® Aqua® Nasal Spray (Budesonide nasal spray) is prescribed with frequency omitted


Near Misses

  • Relpax® (Eletriptan) is ordered with dose and frequency omitted
  • Hydrocodone 5/500 mg tablets are ordered as “1–2 tablets Q4-6 hr PRN pain” with maximum daily dose omitted
  • Ortho Evra® contraceptive patch (Ethinyl Estradiol and Norelgestromin contraceptive patch) instructions incorrectly written as “apply one patch monthly”
  • Lasix® (Furosemide) is ordered with strength omitted”

To receive a full copy of the study, contact DrFirst at sales@drfirst.com!


About ifroehlich

Ms. Froehlich has been with DrFirst since its inception in 2000. In her role as Director of Marketing, she oversees the planning, directing, and coordinating all marketing and public relations efforts at DrFirst. Ms. Froehlich has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.