How EHRs can reduce wrong-patient NICU errors

Including an identification re-entry function into a computerized order entry system may help reduce the event of wrong-patient errors in the neonatal intensive care unit, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics meeting.

In the NICU, many patients are given a temporary, generic name such as "BabyBoy" or "BabyGirl," which increases the risk for wrong-patient errors, according to the study abstract.

The researchers at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City implemented an identification re-entry function that required clinicians to enter the patient's initials, age and gender before beginning an order entry session.

In a previous study, the researchers developed a retract-and-reorder tool in their EHR, which identifies when an order is placed on one patient, retracted and then resubmitted for another patient. They then compared the RAR order session incidences before and after implementing the identification re-entry function.

Researchers found the rate of RAR incidences decreased 50.6 percent from pre-intervention to post-intervention, with RAR occurrences falling from 284 per 100,000 order sessions to 123 per 100,000 order sessions.

Researchers concluded an identification re-entry function significantly decreased the number of wrong-patient orders in the NICU.

More articles on EHRs:

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Current EHR infrastructure not ready for next generation of health IT, finds survey 
Study: EHRs decrease patient safety events 

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