Software errors in medical practices: KBV warns of incorrect dosages
The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) has issued an important warning for medical practices in Germany. There are currently technical problems with the software that doctors use for their daily work. Dangerous errors can occur during the digital transmission of medication information.
The problem occurs when the so-called "nationwide uniform medication plan" (BMP) is read into a practice's computer system. This plan is intended to clearly list all of a patient's medications. However, due to technical errors in the practice management software, medication dosages are sometimes imported incorrectly.
These errors can pose a health risk to patients. If the software displays the wrong amount of a medication, the patient may receive a dose that is too high or too low. The KBV emphasizes that patient safety is the top priority and that such technical defects must not be ignored.
The KBV therefore advises doctors to check the data in the system particularly carefully at the moment. One should not rely blindly on the automatic transmission by the software. A manual comparison with the patient's printed plan is necessary to ensure that all information is correct.
Software manufacturers are now called upon to check their programs as quickly as possible and correct the errors. Until all systems are working reliably again, the attention of medical staff remains the most important protection against incorrect dosages and possible treatment errors.