International journal of health care quality assurance
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Int J Health Care Qual Assur · Jan 2011
Comparison of medication error rates and clinical effects in three medication prescription-dispensation systems.
Medication errors (MEs) are important in terms of their magnitude and severity, and there are numerous systems in place to reduce their occurrence. However, the ideal system has not yet been identified. The authors' institution uses three different medication prescription-dispensation systems which operate simultaneously. ME rates were compared, overall and by phase (prescription, transcription and administration) and their overall and specific clinical impact. ⋯ It is possible that automated medication dispensation systems reduce error rates and the severity of their effects.