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Related Experiment Videos

Computerized ICU Orders Versus Handwritten ICU Orders: A Prospective, Pharmacy-Based Analysis.

Neil Halpern1, Robert D. Colucci, Robert Thompson

  • 1VA Medical Center, Bronx, USA and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA.

American Journal of Therapeutics
|April 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

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Computerized intensive care unit (ICU) order writing significantly reduces processing time and errors compared to handwritten orders. This efficiency enhances pharmacy workflow and patient care through fewer medical errors.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Informatics
  • Healthcare Management
  • Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

  • Handwritten physician orders in intensive care units (ICUs) are prone to errors and processing delays.
  • Efficient order management is crucial for timely patient care in critical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficiency and accuracy of computerized ICU order writing against traditional handwritten physician orders.
  • To evaluate the impact of order writing method on pharmacy processing times and error rates.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study was conducted in the medical and surgical ICUs of a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
  • A time study and problem analysis were performed on 264 sets of physician orders (133 handwritten, 131 computerized).

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Main Results:

  • Computerized orders required significantly less review time (1.84 ± 0.1 min) compared to handwritten orders (2.5 ± 0.3 min).
  • Computerized orders had significantly fewer problems (12) than handwritten orders (45).
  • Corrections for computerized orders were also faster, with most issues resolved via telephone.

Conclusions:

  • Computerized ICU order-writing systems lead to faster processing, fewer errors, and quicker error correction.
  • Implementation of a dedicated computerized system enhances order accuracy and pharmacy processing efficiency over handwritten methods.