Use of the Electronic Health Record for Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions

Purpose of Review Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The electronic health record (EHR) provides an opportunity to monitor ADRs, mainly through the utilization of drug allergy data and pharmacogenomics. This review article explores the current use of the EHR for ADR monitoring and highlights areas that require improvement. Recent Findings Recent research has identified several issues with using EHR for ADR monitoring. These include the lack of standardization between EHR systems, specificity in data entry options, incomplete and inaccurate documentation, and alert fatigue. These issues can limit the effectiveness of ADR monitoring and compromise patient safety. Summary The EHR has great potential for monitoring ADR but needs significant updates to improve patient safety and optimize care. Future research should concentrate on developing standardized documentation and clinical decision support systems within EHRs. Healthcare professionals should also be educated on the significance of accurate and complete ADR monitoring.