title: Computerized reminders reduce the use of medications during shortages.
abstract: Medication shortages pose serious problems in health care. This study examines the impact of a computer-based reminder in addressing a national methylprednisolone shortage. An alert was designed and implemented in a computerized order entry platform at a children's hospital. The alert informed physicians of the shortage and provided an alternative prescribing pathway. Data regarding the number and type of parenteral corticosteroid prescriptions were collected for a one-month period before and after the alert was implemented. The alert resulted in a 55% relative reduction in methylprednisolone use and an average reduction of more than three orders each day. Dexamethasone and hydrocortisone, the recommended alternative medications, increased in use by 12% and 49%, respectively. The alert resulted in a $36,552 annualized cost reduction to the institution. Similar alert applications have great potential for effectively altering physician prescribing behavior.
authors.affiliation: Division of Critical Care Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogucki
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hingle
mesh_terms: D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; D017046:Cost Savings; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017010:Reminder Systems; D014584:User-Computer Interface
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone