The safety of computerised prescribing in hospitals

The implementation of computerised prescribing can result in large reductions in prescribing error rates. The flow-on effects to patient outcomes are not well studied. The reduction in errors is dependent on prescribers becoming proficient in using the electronic prescribing system. All potential safety benefits are therefore not expected to be achieved immediately. Electronic prescribing systems introduce new types of errors, most frequently errors in selection. Some of these errors can be prevented if the system is well designed. Computerised decision support embedded in electronic prescribing systems has enormous potential to improve medication safety. However, current support systems have a limited capacity to provide context-relevant advice to prescribers.