Use of decision support to prevent errors when documenting height and weight in the hospital electronic medical record

AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2008 Nov 6:890.

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of decision support to improve documentation of height and weight as a means to prevent medication errors. We developed a real-time expert system rule that calculates age-specific limits and provides an alert if the value entered is outside these limits. We compare data before and after the implementation of the rule, demonstrating a significant reduction of errors.

MeSH terms

  • Body Height*
  • Body Weight*
  • Decision Support Systems, Clinical / organization & administration*
  • Drug Information Services / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized / organization & administration*
  • Medication Errors / prevention & control*
  • Minnesota