Archives of disease in childhood
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Prescription errors, including continuous infusion prescriptions are one major source of concern in the paediatric population. Evidence suggests that use of an electronic or web-based calculator could minimise these errors. In our paediatric critical care unit (PCCU) we have created an electronic continuous infusion prescription chart to target errors in this area and conducted an audit to assess its effect on error reduction. ⋯ The use of an electronic continuous infusion prescription chart has been successfully set up and used on PCCU. Its use has significantly reduced continuous infusion prescription error rates. The one error on electronic prescription charts was due to incorrect data input.Whilst similar formats exist for transferring patients between intensive care units in the UK, this differs by its use on inpatients. As a new project, various learning points were gained during the process. Some discrepancies in the formulas were identified during the validation process and trial period and the flexibility to change these quickly was paramount. The need to standardise prescribing habits and administration preferences was also important before proceeding to the formulation stage. Security and version control was another factor to consider ensuring restricted use of the most updated version.Major advantages of this prescription chart include ease of set up and low cost compared to established commercial programs. Another was the ability to quickly adapt information to the changing needs of the unit or updated dosage recommendations.In summary, the use of the electronic continuous infusion prescription chart has significantly reduced prescription error rates on PCCU. It has also allowed more efficient use of medical and pharmacy time resources.