November 15, 2011: Duplicate Therapy Checking
Duplicate therapy is defined as the concurrent administration of two or more medications that either increases the potential for adverse effects, or does not benefit the patient more than giving fewer drugs. MGH Provider Order Entry (POE) has been enhanced to alert clinicians writing orders, when there is the potential for duplicate therapy. The ordering clinician has the option to stop writing the new order, discontinue the active order and write the new one, or continue with both medications.
Override—You must provide a reason if you override the intervention and order both treatments. The summary views of the orders are both flagged with <DuTx>, and the intervention and override are documented in the order details. These summary views are displayed in POE and in the eMAR (electronic mediation administration record) for the patient.
The initial implementation of Duplicate Therapy Checking will only monitor for currently approved Partners enterprise duplicate therapy classes. POE will not alert providers to all medication orders that might be potential duplicate therapies. When you order medications, be vigilant for potential for duplicate therapy.
Mediations ordered for one-time (X1) or as needed (PRN) treatment are not checked. In addition, medications ordered from treatment templates are not checked. When you order medications from templates, be vigilant for potential for duplicate therapy.
Duplicate Medication Checking—Medication orders are also checked for duplication. Duplicates are orders for the exact same medication, administered by the exact same route. If a duplicate medication is included in the currently approved Partners enterprise duplicate therapy classes, the duplicate therapy alert takes precedence, and the duplicate order alert is not triggered.
Overview: Overview of Duplicate Therapy Interventions
Instructions: Responding To Duplicate Therapy Warnings
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