Decision Support and Patient Safety

In recent years, clinical decision support (CDS) systems have become recognized as increasingly important in assuring patient safety and supporting all phases of the clinical decision-making process. In Laboratory Medicine, CDS systems are usually used to drive test ordering and diagnostic prediction while combining IT components and staff skills. However, educational initiatives, user and provider feedback, and expert consultations should also be considered integral to CDS. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of some important developments in CDS in supporting the clinical decision-making process and guaranteeing patient safety by reducing medical errors.