Study: Preventable Wrong-Patient Orders With CPOEs Occur Frequently

Researchers at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City found that wrong-patient electronic orders occur frequently with computerized provider order entry systems, and electronic interventions can reduce the risk of these errors occurring, according to a recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association. The study aimed to evaluate systems for estimating and preventing wrong-patient electronic orders in CPOE systems. There were two phases to the study. In the first phase, the frequency of wrong-patient electronic orders in 2009 was tested with a measurement tool in four hospitals.