Using Digital Healthcare Technologies to Improve Medication Safety AHRQ-Funded Research Findings +++++

https://digital.ahrq.gov/ahrq-funded-projects/search?f%5B0%5D=health_care_topic%3A7911&f%5B1%5D=health_care_topic%3A7986&f%5B2%5D=health_care_topic%3A10261 Medication safety has improved significantly over the last two decades with the use of digital healthcare technologies. While errors may happen at all stages of the medication process, a variety of tools support the prescribing process (e.g., computerized prescribing with decision support), the dispensing process (e.g., barcoding or automated dispensing and unit-dose systems), and the administration process (e.g., electronic medication administration records and smart pumps). As the Nation’s patient safety agency, AHRQ invests in research to identify and prevent medication errors. Below are examples of AHRQ-funded research focused on understanding ways that technology can catch these errors and improve medication safety. Understanding CancelRX: Impact on Clinical Workflows, Medication Safety Risks, and Patient Outcomes https://digital.ahrq.gov/ahrq-funded-projects/understanding-cancelrx-impact-clinical-workflows-medication-safety-risks-and#nav-research-story Decreasing Medication Safety Risks with E-prescribing Implementing CancelRx, an e-prescribing tool to electronically communicate medication discontinuation orders between electronic health records and pharmacies, showed an immediate and persistent reduction in prescriptions that were dispensed after discontinuation. Scaling E.Q.U.I.P.P.E.D. Clinical Decision Support https://digital.ahrq.gov/ahrq-funded-projects/scaling-equipped-clinical-decision-support#nav-research-story Improving Medication Safety for Older Adults Using a clinical decision support system in the emergency department significantly reduces the prescribing of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults. Develop and Validate Health IT Safety Measures To Capture Violations of the Five Rights of Medication Safety https://digital.ahrq.gov/ahrq-funded-projects/develop-and-validate-health-it-safety-measures-capture-violations-five-rights#nav-research-story Using automated digital healthcare tools to advance medication safety New measures to identify near-miss medication errors are a major advancement in patient safety and can help healthcare systems make ordering even safer. Medication Without Harm - How Digital Healthcare Tools Can Support Providers and Improve Patient Safety Event Date: July 24, 2024 | 2:30pm – 4:00pm ET https://digital.ahrq.gov/national-webinars/medication-without-harm-how-digital-healthcare-tools-can-support-providers-and