How can e-prescribing and clinical decision support in secondary care be best utilised to improve patient care?
31 August 2009 As published on www.bjhcim.co.uk, August 2009 Neill Jones of First DataBank Europe highlights the major factors for ensuring that technology for e-prescribing and clinical decision support is implemented in a way that supports improvements in the provision of healthcare, by streamlining and integrating data sources, engaging staff in the change process and providing the appropriate tools to improve workflow and patient outcomes. Experience of electronic prescribing in secondary care in the UK and the US is evidence that the appropriate application of IT (including e-prescribing and clinical decision support (CDS) with real-time alerting) can reduce the risk of medical error and support the improvement of patient care. But e-prescribing and CDS can only be effective in improving patient care to its full potential with a multidisciplinary approach and proactive leadership to drive positive change. So how can healthcare leaders ensure that these tools are used to their full
