Putting adverse drug events into perspective

Article Abstract:

A systems approach can provide valuable information for improving health care. Recent studies have used sophisticated computer analyses to uncover the factors that lead to adverse drug events (ADEs) and to measure their impact in human and financial terms. Even taking into account that sicker patients receiving multiple medications were more likely to experience ADEs, the studies document that ADEs are common and costly. They also revealed that many ADEs arise from human error. This kind of systematic analytic approach could equally well be used to develop strategies to reduce human error.

Editorial, Medical care, Quality management, Medical care quality, Drug allergy, Drug hypersensitivity

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A Computer Alert System to Prevent Injury From Adverse Drug Events

Article Abstract:

A computerized alert system to identify potential adverse drug events (ADE) can substantially reduce the incidence of drug reactions in hospitalized patients. Researchers estimate that ADEs kill three and disable one of every 1,000 patients who are hospitalized. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, evaluated a ADE alert system in the care of 9,306 adult patients treated over six months. The system altered the medical staff to 1,116 possible ADEs, of which 596 were deemed valid. Forty-four percent of the valid alerts had not been recognized by the treating physicians.

Injuries, Drugs, Medicine, Complications and side effects, Information services, Hospital patients, Pharmacy, Adverse drug reactions

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