Effectiveness of a clinical decision support system for reducing the risk of QT interval prolongation in hospitalized patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We evaluated the effectiveness of a computer clinical decision support system (CDSS) for reducing the risk of QT interval prolongation in hospitalized patients.

Methods and results

We evaluated 2400 patients admitted to cardiac care units at an urban academic medical center. A CDSS incorporating a validated risk score for QTc prolongation was developed and implemented using information extracted from patients' electronic medical records. When a drug associated with torsades de pointes was prescribed to a patient at moderate or high risk for QTc interval prolongation, a computer alert appeared on the screen to the pharmacist entering the order, who could then consult the prescriber on alternative therapies and implement more intensive monitoring. QTc interval prolo

SUBMITTER: Tisdale JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4696749 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature