Seven Case Study on the Use of Health Care Technology to Improve Medication Safety

Medication errors occur frequently and are associated with significant clinical and financial consequences.1 Health care technologies are increasingly being introduced into the health care system to improve the efficiency, quality, and safety of medical care. Because medication errors can occur at any point during the medication use process (see example in Figure 7-1 on page 104), the implementation of technology solutions, such as computerized prescriber order entry (CPOE), medication reconciliation systems, robust clinical pharmacy information systems, and bar code scanning technology, as well as electronic medication administration records, automated dispensing machines (ADMs), carousel storage systems, robotics, smart pumps, and adverse drug event surveillance systems, can be utilized to decrease medication errors and subsequently improve patient safety.