In an EHR with CPOE and CDS, allergy alerts should be triggered:

In an EHR with CPOE and CDS, allergy alerts should be triggered:

• A. before contraindicated drug orders
• B. before orders are written
• C. on physician request by accessing a link after orders are written
• D. after orders are written

Answer: (B)

Allergy alerts should fire at the point of order entry, before the order is written. This real-time check links the patient’s allergy list with the proposed medication so the clinician can see an alert and adjust the order before it becomes part of the medical record. Intercepting during order entry prevents administering a drug the patient is allergic to, which is the core safety purpose of CPOE with CDS. If the alert came after the order was written, or required a manual action after the fact, there would be a greater risk of harm because the medication could already be prescribed or documented.

Allergy alerts should fire at the point of order entry, before the order is written. This real-time check links the patient’s allergy list with the proposed medication so the clinician can see an alert and adjust the order before it becomes part of the medical record. Intercepting during order entry prevents administering a drug the patient is allergic to, which is the core safety purpose of CPOE with CDS. If the alert came after the order was written, or required a manual action after the fact, there would be a greater risk of harm because the medication could already be prescribed or documented.