Physician resilience to computer decision support system-generated alerts (Preprint)
UNSTRUCTURED Can computerized clinical decision support system (CDSS) generated alerts increase professional distress in clinical practice? We review published studies exploring potential negative implications associated with the wide implementation of CDSSs linked to electronic health records. CDSSs have been developed to optimize standards of care and warn physicians of potential medication errors. In routine practice, however, clinicians are beset by a barrage of disruptive, often clinically irrelevant alerts, resulting in information overload, alert fatigue and, in worst case scenarios, they might represent a hazard to patient safety. Overriding alerts has become a defense tactic against tedious and time-consuming notifications. This tactic exposes physicians to potential drawbacks and represents a system failure. A critical rethinking of the design and implementation of alerts implies a greater focus on practice-related needs and the contexts in which end-users operate, as well as a hospital-wide re-evaluation of alarm notification systems. Shared responsibility between key stakeholders is essential to minimize alert fatigue and restore physician resilience.