Warning of Software Errors in Medication Dosages
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) has issued an important warning for medical practices in Germany. There are technical problems with the software that many doctors use for managing their patients. When information from the national medication plan is transferred into the computer system, errors can occur.
The main problem involves so-called transmission errors. The software sometimes fails to read the medication plan data correctly. This results in the dosage of a medication being displayed incorrectly in the system. For example, a wrong amount or an incorrect time for intake might appear in the computer, even though the original plan was correct.
These errors pose a risk to patient safety. If a patient takes the wrong amount of a medication, it can have serious health consequences. Especially with strong medications, exact dosing is vital. The KBV therefore emphasizes that technology alone is not enough and human oversight remains necessary.
The KBV advises all doctors to check the data in the system with particular care. Before a new prescription is printed or a digital plan is saved, the information must be manually compared with the original plan. Software manufacturers have already been informed of the problems so they can fix the errors in their programs as quickly as possible.
This incident shows that while digitalization in healthcare offers many advantages, it also brings new risks. Patients who are unsure about their current dosage should ask directly at their doctor's office or at the pharmacy. Patient safety must always come first, even when technology fails.