Health Innovation Series: e-Medication Safety

The Health Innovation Series communicates research evidence in an easy-to-read, short format with clear recommendations, covering a wide range of topics. New Issues will be released regularly.

e-Medication Safety topics

Digital health systems are the cornerstone of high-quality care with expectations growing from consumers and the health system for highly integrated systems that support timely access to information, safe medication management and efficient work processes. The e-Medication Safety series provides targeted recommendations, making clear how to improve user satisfaction and patient outcomes through enhanced system usability, increased adherence to clinical guidelines and fewer medication errors.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 19

Does your drop-down menu present safe options?

e-Medication Safety: Issue 18

What time is the next dose due? Avoid errors by updating the schedule!

e-Medication Safety: Issue 17

Is your administration documentation accurate? Check fields that auto-populate!

e-Medication Safety: Issue 16

A mix of prescribing systems may be a recipe for disaster

Keywords: prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 15

Default first dose times can cause deadly double doses

Keywords: prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 14

How free-text fields can lead to medication errors

Keywords: prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 13

First in line: optimising order sentence display reduces selection errors

Keywords: prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 12

Making order sentences work for you: search tips for prescribers

Keywords: prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 11

Keeping staff safe when handling hazardous medication: it’s not only cytotoxics that are risky

Keywords: prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 10

Stop! Is that weight out-of-date? preventing dose errors in children

Keywords: paediatrics, prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 9

Is the rounding rule in your dose calculator causing dose errors in children?

Keywords: paediatrics, prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 8

Can’t find a medication in the electronic medication system? How to prevent errors and user frustration

Keywords: prescribing

e-Medication Safety: Issue 7

Dose calculator missing in action

Keywords: paediatrics, prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 6

Accidental prescribing of extended-release opioids

Keywords: prescribing

e-Medication Safety: Issue 5

Pre-operative medication frequencies matter

Keywords: prescribing

e-Medication Safety: Issue 4

Preventing dangerous intraspinal injections

Keywords: prescribing

e-Medication Safety: Issue 3

Double dose trouble: systemic intranasal medication. Can you spot the problem?

Keywords: paediatric, prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 2

Caution: editing within a dose calculator can result in large dose errors.

Dose calculators are helpful tools for prescribing, particularly in the paediatric setting. However, errors can occur when prescribers edit fields incorrectly within a dose calculator.

Keywords: paediatric, prescribing.

e-Medication Safety: Issue 1

Prescribing an IV in an electronic medication system. What could possibly go wrong?

An ePS may offer a range of options for the intravenous (IV) route, for example IV bolus, IV continuous infusion and IV intermittent infusion . However, for some medications IV bolus may not be recommended, or is used only in specialised settings. Giving a prescriber multiple options when prescribing can lead to inadvertent selection of IV bolus when it may not be recommended. Read the latest issue.

Keywords: paediatric, prescribing, acute care.

The recommendations are based on research evidence derived from empirical studies, such as those assessing medication and technology-related errors, direct observational studies of clinical work, usability assessments, trials of digital interventions, conducted in a variety of care settings including paediatric and adult hospitals, and residential aged care.

Editorial team

Professor Johanna Westbrook Professor and Director	Dr Magda Raban Senior Research Fellow	Alison Merchant Research Officer
Erin Fitzpatrick Research Officer	Sarah Gamboa Research Assistant	Chrissy Clay Media and Research Outreach Consultant
Kelly Smith Administrative Assistant