title: Non-interruptive drug-lab alerts in ambulatory care.
abstract: To monitor potential adverse drug events, we devised a non-interruptive alert within our electronic medical record that prompted outpatient providers to order labs along with new prescriptions. When comparing control to intervention occurrences, we found the intervention had a non-significant impact on lab prescribing. The results of our prospective, randomized, controlled trial suggest that non-interruptive alerts are ineffective.
authors.affiliation: Partners HealthCare.
authors.forename: Helen G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Matheny
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Seger
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.forename: Tejal K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Gandhi
mesh_terms: D000555:Ambulatory Care Information Systems; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004360:Drug Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D017010:Reminder Systems