A Trial of Automated Decision Support Alerts for Contraindicated Medications Using Computerized Physician Order Entry
- Affiliations of the authors: College of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, (WLG); Department of Pharmacy Practice (RJD); and Information Technology Services, (AP) University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago, IL
- Address for correspondence: William L. Galanter, MD, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine (M/C 718), 840 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612; e-mail: <billg{at}uic.edu>
- Received 29 October 2004
- Accepted 24 January 2005
Abstract
Background Automated clinical decision support has shown promise in reducing medication errors; however, clinicians often do not comply with alerts. Because renal insufficiency is a common source of medication errors, the authors studied a trial of alerts designed to reduce inpatient administration of medications contraindicated due to renal insufficiency.
Methods A minimum safe creatinine clearance was established for each inpatient formulary medication. Alerts recommending cancellation appeared when a medication order was initiated for a patient whose estimated creatinine clearance was less than the minimum safe creatinine clearance for the medication. Administration of medications in patients with creatinine clearances less than the medication's minimum safe clearance were studied for 14 months after, and four months before, alert implementation. In addition, the impact of patient age, gender, degree of renal dysfunction, time of day, and duration of housestaff training on the likelihood of housestaff compliance with the alerts was examined.
Results The likelihood of a patient receiving at least one dose of contraindicated drug after the order was initiated decreased from 89% to 47% (p < 0.0001) after alert implementation. Analysis of the alerts seen by housestaff showed that alert compliance was higher in male patients (57% vs. 38%, p = 0.02), increased with the duration of housestaff training (p = 0.04), and increased in patients with worsening renal function (p = 0.007).
Conclusion Alerts were effective in decreasing the ordering and administration of drugs contraindicated due to renal insuffiency. Compliance with the alerts was higher in male patients, increased with the duration of housestaff training, and increased in patients with more severe renal dysfunction.
Footnotes
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Portions of the work presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting, Vancouver, May 2003.
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Dr. Polikaitis was an employee of Cerner Corporation at the time the trial was performed and Cerner supported his efforts. Drs. Didomenico and Galanter have no financial conflicts.
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The authors thank Amy Looi, RN, for technical assistance in the CDS alert development and Dr. Ahsan Arozullah for assistance with the statistical analysis.
