[Computerized physician order entry--an urgently required modality]

Misread or misinterpreted hand-written prescriptions or medication orders are the most important cause of life-threatening or serious drug related adverse effects occurring in hospital in-patients. There is convincing evidence in the literature showing that computerized systems for physician order entry, with on-line screening of drug related orders for compatibility with patient characteristics (e.g. age, renal function), drug information (e.g. dose limits, drug-drug interactions) and sets of institutional rules of performance can reduce rates of medication related errors by 80% and more. Reduction of error-related hospital costs would generate the funding required for implementation of such systems, a need that must be met without delay.