The Role of a Computerized System of Medical Order Registration on the Reduction of Medical Errors

Medication errors are the most common medical errors, and are one of the major challenges threatening the healthcare system, which is inherently susceptible to error. In this study, we aimed to compare the occurrence of errors between two methods of entering orders: manual and digital. In this perspective study, 350 files in the Baqiyatallah hospital in Tehran, Iran, were evaluated in 2014. The files were divided into two groups, including manual and digital methods, with 175 members each. In both groups, the presence of errors in the administration, registration, and execution of orders was compared. Overall, 350 cases underwent analysis; 175 files were evaluated manually and 175 were evaluated digitally. Of the 69 errors (19.7%) that occurred, 65 errors (18.6%) were in the manual files versus 4 (1.1%) in the digital files (P < 0.001). The mean age of the nurses making errors was 32.42 ± 7.13 years old, and for the others it was 35.15 ± 7.76 years old (P = 0.008). Additionally, the mean age of the physicians with errors was 37.52 ± 7.97 years old versus 34.48 ± 6.82 years old in the others. Moreover, significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age (P = 0.002). Of the 69 errors, 80% were because of bad handwriting (P < 0.001), 50 errors (14.3%) were pharmaceutical, 2 errors (0.6%) were related to the procedure, and 17 (4.9%) were related to the tests. It can be concluded that electronic health records lead to a reduction in medication errors and increase patient safety.