Adverse Drug Event (ADE) Monitor
What is considered an Adverse Drug Event (ADE)?
An ADE is an injury due to a drug, which can be preventable or non-preventable. Non-preventable adverse drug events are also called adverse drug reactions.
What can we do to proactively prevent ADEs?
In 2001, BWH designed and implemented a detection system called the ADE monitor. The ADE monitor is a set of programmable “rules” that link medication orders with real time lab orders to detect potential ADEs. For example, one ADE monitor rule detects orders for drugs that are toxic to the kidney and links them to the patient’s renal function lab tests. If the renal function changes, a computer alert goes to the pharmacists. The pharmacists review these alerts daily and suggest alternative therapeutic strategies to the physicians. There are over 50 rules currently in place.
How has the ADE monitor improved medication safety?
The most common interventions recommended by the pharmacist and accepted by the physician based on these alerts include: changing the drug interval, discontinuing or holding the medication, adding or discontinuing a lab test, changing the dose, and providing drug information to the physician. The ADE monitor both improves patient safety and helps reduce drug costs.
How can you find out more about the ADE monitor?
For questions regarding the ADE monitor, email or page Carl Stapinski, RPh, ADE pharmacist.
For questions regarding Patient Safety, email or page Tejal Gandhi, MD or Erin Graydon-Baker, MS, RRT.