A long-term follow-up evaluation of electronic health record prescribing safety.

Many institutions are now moving from relatively unsophisticated electronic health records (EHRs) to more advanced systems. This transition can pose safety hazards; a previous article demonstrated that replacing an older EHR with a new system resulted in a higher incidence of some types of prescribing errors. However, this follow-up study found that prescribing errors consistently decreased as users became more familiar with the new system and as the system was refined. Prior studies have also shown that at least 1 year of use is required to obtain the safety benefits of EHRs. The article provides an excellent example of the ongoing monitoring and adaptation required to effectively implement EHRs.