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Can Drug Errors Be Fixed With a Couple Keystrokes?

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By: Dave Gilmartin

Can medication-dispensing errors be fixed by making you type in five letters instead of two or three?

Since the RaDonda Vaught verdict, there has been an increased focus on electronic medication cabinets and how they can be improved. Safety advocates argue that requiring a user to type in at least five letters before offering potential medication matches would make dispensing the wrong drug less likely.

Some nurses are concerned, however, that such a change will slow them down and do more harm than good.

See this Kaiser Health News report on what changes have already been made and how soon you might see them where you work.

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