Discuss the deliberate effect of computerized warning systems on adverse drug events.

Computerized warning systems can be used to prevent ADEs. Serious ADEs occur in about 7 percent of patients admitted to hospitals. Many of these are caused by a physician prescribing either the wrong drug or the wrong dosage, because of lack of knowledge of either the patients or the drug. In 1994, a computerized warning system was designed and put into place in one hospital. The hospital already had in place a database with patient information; the existing system warned of a patient’s specific drug allergy and of adverse drug reactions. The new alert system added warnings of other likely ADEs. Physicians reported that the computer warning alerts inform them of the potential danger in 44 percent of alerts. Many reports emphasize the use of computers to write prescriptions and check for possible errors in dosage, as also crucial in reducing ADEs. Handheld computers for example, provide immediate access to drug databases and other information. They also make prescriptions legible.