Exploring errors in a medication process: An analysis of information delivery

Abstract

In this paper we examine the prescribing process in a hospital to see whether information systems failure contributes to the occurrence of prescribing errors. Reason's model of organisational failure [1] suggests that this may be the case. Reason (1990) identifies circumstances in work systems and processes where errors may occur. While Reason's model has been applied in a medical context, it has not been previously linked to errors which result from Information Systems failure. It is held, however, that the model can be used as a predictive tool suggesting that prescribing errors have an increased likelihood of occurring if one or more of the types of failure identified in Reason's model ar..