Impact of computerized prescriber order entry on the incidence of adverse drug events in pediatric inpatients.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the impact of a computerized physician order entry system with substantial decision support on the incidence and types of adverse drug events in hospitalized children.

Methods: A prospective methodology was used for the collection of adverse drug events and potential adverse drug events from all patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care and general pediatric units over a 6-month period. Data from a previous adverse drug event study of the same patient care units before computerized physician order entry implementation were used for comparison purposes.