Medication safety and knowledge-based functions: a stepwise approach against information overload

Aims: The aim was to improve medication safety in an emergency department (ED) by enhancing the integration and presentation of safety information for drug therapy.

Methods: Based on an evaluation of safety of drug therapy issues in the ED and a review of computer-assisted intervention technologies we redesigned an electronic case sheet and implemented computer-assisted interventions into the routine work flow. We devised a four step system of alerts, and facilitated access to different levels of drug information. System use was analyzed over a period of 6 months. In addition, physicians answered a survey based on the technology acceptance model TAM2.

Results: The new application was implemented in an informal manner to avoid work flow disruption. Log files demonstrated that step I, 'valid indication' was utilized for 3% of the recorded drugs and step II 'tooltip for well-known drug risks' for 48% of the drugs. In the questionnaire, the computer-assisted interventions were rated better than previous paper based measures (checklists, posters) with regard to usefulness, support of work and information quality.

Conclusion: A stepwise assisting intervention received positive user acceptance. Some intervention steps have been seldom used, others quite often. We think that we were able to avoid over-alerting and work flow intrusion in a critical ED environment.