Scoping Review of Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems in Reducing Medical Errors

Medical errors have dramatic clinical and economic consequences. Using various information technology can reduce medical errors and improve services’ quality via preventing medical errors. In this study, the role of a computerized medical order entry system was investigated in reducing medical errors.

This study was conducted as a scoping review. The research question was formulated; then, the inclusion and exclusion criteria, keywords (such as medical errors, adverse event, physician order entry system and control) and search strategy were determined. International databases(Scopus, ProQuest, and PubMed) and manual searches were used. The studies that had the inclusion criteria were entered into the study and were evaluated qualitatively, then information of studies was extracted and summarized.

In total, 16 studies were included. Most studies were about medication errors and adverse medication events. So, it is possible to claim more confidently about reducing medication errors to adverse medication events, since in studies, the impact of this system on medication errors had been further discussed. Some studies have pointed to an increase in error reports due to better checking and error entry with this system, and in general, the positive impact of this action has been mentioned in minimizing errors, especially medication errors and adverse medication events. Positive and significant effects have also been reported on prescribing errors, especially medication prescriptions.

Computerization of medical orders through its positive effects, can be considered a useful and appropriate intervention in increasing patient safety if implemented completely and correctly.