Investigating Wrong-Patient Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) Errors

Summary

With the increased adoption of CPOE systems, it is important to recognize that design flaws have resulted in the creation of new types of iatrogenic medical errors. An example of a new type of iatrogenic medical error introduced by CPOE systems has been named "juxtaposition errors". Juxtaposition errors, as defined by Ash, et al. are "errors that can result when something is close to something else on the screen, and the wrong option is too easily clicked in error." Juxtaposition errors can lead to a patient receiving a medication, a test, or a treatment intended for another patient, sometimes with dire consequences. Juxtaposition errors are likely a subclass of a broader group of wrong-patient CPOE errors that have multiple etiologies.

The primary objectives of this research proposal is to investigate the prevalence of wrong-patient near miss CPOE errors, to investigate the root cause of these errors, and to investigate and compare the efficacy and workflow impact of two distinct interventions to prevent these errors.

Conditions

• Wrong Patient Computerized Physician Order Entry Errors

Interventions

OTHER

Passive Intervention

When a user is about to place orders on a patient, a pop up alert will show the user the name, age, sex, room number and MR# of the patient who is currently activated. The point of the alert is to display identification information about the patient as a double check for the provider to make sure he is on the correct patient. This alert will only occur once at the onset of each order session (i.e. the provider will not be alerted for every single order, but if the provider leaves the order pad and then returns, the alert will reoccur).

OTHER

Active Intervention

The user will be required to enter the initials, age and sex of the activated patient prior to placing any orders. For example, for a patient named Donald Duck who is 76 years old and male, the user will be required to type "dd76m" to unlock the order pad. This step will NOT be required for every order, but WILL be required every time the user enters the order pad (i.e. if a user leaves the order pad and then returns, the system will require the initials, age and sex to be re-entered as above). This will be a forcing function.

OTHER

Control

Parallel control with no intervention

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Montefiore Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jason S Adelman, MD, MS · Montefiore Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-12-31

Primary Completion

2011-05-31

Completion

2011-06-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations