Implementing eHealth Technologies: The Need for Changed Work Practices to Reduce Medication Errors.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Patient Safety
• Pharmaceutical Science

Background:

• Medication errors represent a major threat to patient safety, with approximately one-third of Norway's elderly population exposed to potentially inappropriate medications.
• The Norwegian government has implemented national eHealth initiatives, including e-prescription and Summary Care Record systems, to enhance medication management and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the limitations of solely relying on pharmaceutical information access through eHealth systems in preventing medication errors.
• To explore the factors beyond information access that contribute to or mitigate medication errors.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data were collected through 56 interviews conducted between 2015 and 2019.
• Interview transcripts were thematically coded and analyzed to identify key themes related to medication errors and eHealth systems.

Main Results:

• eHealth systems provide valuable support in managing medications.
• However, the study highlights that solely providing access to pharmaceutical information is insufficient to resolve medication errors.
• Changes in work practices and enhanced professional knowledge-sharing are essential components for effective error reduction.

Conclusions:

• While eHealth systems are beneficial, they are not a complete solution for preventing medication errors.
• Addressing medication errors requires a multifaceted approach that integrates technological solutions with improvements in professional collaboration and work processes.