RESUMEN
Objectives: Since the 1970s, a plethora of tools have been introduced to support the medication use process. However, automation initiatives to assist pharmacists in prospectively reviewing medication orders are lacking. The review of many medications may be protocolized and implemented in an algorithmic fashion utilizing discrete data from the electronic health record (EHR). This research serves as a proof of concept to evaluate the capability and effectiveness of an electronic prospective medication order review (EPMOR) system compared to pharmacists' review. Materials and methods: A subset of the most frequently verified medication orders were identified for inclusion. A team of clinical pharmacist experts developed best-practice EPMOR criteria. The established criteria were incorporated into conditional logic built within the EHR. Verification outcomes from the pharmacist (human) and EPMOR (automation) were compared. Results: Overall, 13 404 medication orders were included. Of those orders, 13 133 passed pharmacist review, 7388 of which passed EPMOR. A total of 271 medication orders failed pharmacist review due to order modification or discontinuation, 105 of which passed EPMOR. Of the 105 orders, 19 were duplicate orders correctly caught by both EPMOR and pharmacists, but the opposite duplicate order was rejected, 51 orders failed due to scheduling changes. Discussion: This simulation was capable of effectively discriminating and triaging orders. Protocolization and automation of the prospective medication order review process in the EHR appear possible using clinically driven algorithms. Conclusion: Further research is necessary to refine such algorithms to maximize value, improve efficiency, and minimize safety risks in preparation for the implementation of fully automated systems.
RESUMEN
The administration of spike monoclonal antibody treatment to patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 is very challenging. This article summarizes essential components and processes in establishing an effective spike monoclonal antibody infusion program. Rapid identification of a dedicated physical infrastructure was essential to circumvent the logistical challenges of caring for infectious patients while maintaining compliance with regulations and ensuring the safety of our personnel and other patients. Our partnerships and collaborations among multiple different specialties and disciplines enabled contributions from personnel with specific expertise in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, infection prevention and control, electronic health record (EHR) informatics, compliance, legal, medical ethics, engineering, administration, and other critical areas. Clear communication and a culture in which all roles are welcomed at the planning and operational tables are critical to the rapid development and refinement needed to adapt and thrive in providing this time-sensitive beneficial therapy. Our partnerships with leaders and providers outside our institutions, including those who care for underserved populations, have promoted equity in the access of monoclonal antibodies in our regions. Strong support from institutional leadership facilitated expedited action when needed, from a physical, personnel, and system infrastructure standpoint. Our ongoing real-time assessment and monitoring of our clinical program allowed us to improve and optimize our processes to ensure that the needs of our patients with COVID-19 in the outpatient setting are met.