Implementation and Evaluation of a Technology System to Improve Safety of the Oncohematology Medication Practices

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to describe the process of implementing a technology system to improve safety and quality in all processes involved in the treatment with parenteral antineoplastic agents within an interdisciplinary team and to analyze the errors detected and avoided thanks to this system at the different stages of the process. MATERIALS AND METHODS Observational and retrospective study where the implementation of an expert technology system in all phases of the therapeutic process is described: prescription, validation, preparation and administration of drugs, in which errors found in the different phases are analysed. A descriptive analysis of the errors recorded in the various stages of the process was carried out during 3 months. RESULTS There were a total of 2185 preparations belonging to 382 patients. 14 prescription errors were recorded, representing 0.6% of prescriptions. All were potential errors that the system helped to avoid and did not reach the patient. Quality control results: a total of 93 (4.2%) incorrect code readings were detected and 16 (0.7%) readings for wrong components / wrong drugs. Results of quantitative control: 95 mixtures (4.3%) were prepared incorrectly - 29 (1.3%) due to an overdosage, and 66 (3.0%) because of an underdosage. CONCLUSION Introduction of a new support technology to increase pharmacotherapeutic security in oncohematology, has been successfully achieved in all stages of the process. In the study period the implemented system successfully intercepted all the incidents that could have become errors in 6.9% of the prescribed mixtures, therefore no error reached any patient.

Keywords: Antineoplastic agent; electronic prescription; gravimetric control; oncohematology; pharmacotherapy; safety; technology system.