Automated order-entry mechanisms to influence prescribing.

On-line prescribing is available in many hospitals in the United States and has distinct advantages. On-line drug prescribing can be influenced by the use of automated prompts that guide and direct the prescriber to the preferred agent, dosage, or regimen. The authors have adapted screen prompts to facilitate appropriate prescribing as defined by pharmacy and therapeutic (P&T) committee decisions, restricted drug or target drug initiatives, drug-usage evaluation (DUE) actions, departmental guidelines and order-sets, and other institutional directives. Objective evidence for the effectiveness of on-line prompts is provided for H2-antagonists and antibiotics. As computer technology advances even further and is increasingly utilized in the health care setting, on-line interventions to facilitate appropriate prescribing may become increasingly useful.