Prescription errors in geriatric patients can be avoided by means of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE)

The implementation of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) can help reduce prescription errors in clinical practice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a CPOE for geriatric patients with the two most common conditions for drug-induced iatrogenic diseases, dysphagia and renal failure.

A retrospective analysis of actual drug prescriptions versus CPOE recommendations in the geriatric department of the St. Marien Hospital in Cologne, Germany was carried out. Actual drug prescriptions were collected for 26 patients with dysphagia (15 female, 11 male, average age 82.3 ± 8.0 years) and 35 patients with renal failure (23 female, 12 male, average age 80.5 ± 6.7 years) which were compared with recommended prescriptions by means of a CPOE and discrepancies were statistically analyzed.

Prescription errors for at least 1 drug were detected in 46 % of patients with renal failure and the administration of at least 1 drug with inadequate crushing was observed in 77 % of dysphagia patients.

Prescription errors appear to be frequent to highly frequent in the medical routine even in a highly specialized geriatric setting. Inaccuracies might be reduced by the implementation of a CPOE and even more if coupled to a decision support system. Drug-drug or drug-disease interactions, which are particularly high risks in patients with multimorbidities, multidrug therapy, renal failure or malnutrition, might be kept under control through careful verification of medication indications, organ function status as well as drug administration and preparation in cases of tube feeding.