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 21

The curious case of the 100-fold overdose

e-Medication Safety: Issue 20

The dangers of copying a previous order. Don’t be a copycat

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 Is that weight out-of-date?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	A/Prof Magda Raban Associate Professor	Alison Merchant Research Officer
Erin Fitzpatrick Research Officer	Sarah Gamboa Research Assistant	Chrissy Clay Media and Research Outreach Consultant
Kelly Smith Administrative Assistant