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An iPhone app that reduces the chances of paediatricians making prescription errors has been downloaded more than 10,000 times by users in 33 countries.
Paeds ED allows a user to input the details of the affected patient and calculate the exact prescription that is needed.
The success of the £3.99 app has spread across the paediatrics community, with users in Italy, Mexico, Canada and the US logging on to download the hassle-free app.
Dr Haidar Samiei, an emergency department consultant who developed the app, said the stress-free nature of Paeds ED removes the element of human error, which is thought to account for the 13%-20% of paediatric prescriptions that contain mistakes.
Dr Samiei said: “The emergency department environment is often hectic and unpredictable, and national research has shown that prescribing errors are a problem in emergency departments across the country – between 13% and 20% of paediatric prescriptions have errors.
“The Paeds ED app isn’t just a clever calculator; it can tell you what drugs you need for a specific condition and electronically work out the correct quantities after inputting information such as the child’s age or weight.
“Rather than working out calculations manually using a white board, this new app is super fast, super precise, reduces stress, and removes the risk of human error.”
Copyright Press Association 2010
