Reply #10: Actually this is a big problem [View All]

[depakid]

and there is a lot of documentation on it. Of course, the issue is broader than handwriting errors- many incompatible drugs have similar sounding names and physicians aren't always up to date on adverse drug interactions- especially where patients are using dietary supplements or alternative medicines.

As you mention, electronic prescribing systems have all of the same weaknesses that any computer program does- Cedar Sinai hospital in Los Angeles learned that the hard way. Even so, electronic prescribing- as well as more comprehensive clinical information systems, have the ability to prevent medical errors and create efficiencies that significantly reduce health care costs. Unfortunately, with our fragmented for profit system, adopting such sensible measures is difficult and prohibitively expensive in many places.