Effectiveness of a computerized system for intravenous heparin administration: using information technology to improve patient care and patient safety.

To overcome errors in prescribing, calculating doses, and monitoring intravenous heparin, a computerized heparin nomogram system (HepCare) was developed to improve heparin safety using interactive cues between the prescriber, nurse, pharmacist, and the laboratory. The frequency of deviations decreased from 0.5 per patient before HepCare with the protocol to 0.006 per patient with HepCare and the protocol. The goal activated partial thromboplastin time results of the HepCare system (group I) were compared with patients who were not treated using the HepCare system (group II). There was a higher mean percentage of activated partial thromboplastin times within goal range in group I vs. II-44% vs. 27% (p<0.01). There were reminders of a drop in platelet count in 6% of patients, hemoglobin drop in 0.7%, and validation activated partial thromboplastin time values in 7% of patients by HepCare. HepCare-guided intravenous heparin resulted in significant improvements in safety, quality assurance, and targeted activated partial thromboplastin time values.