Displaying patient photos in EHRs reduces errors

A study of more than 2.5 million orders for almost 72,000 emergency department patients found displaying patient photos in the electronic health record (EHR) significantly reduced wrong-patient order entry (WPOE) errors, especially for high-acuity patients. The intervention was not expensive and did not interrupt care. WPOEs have a high potential for harm, the authors wrote, and are especially frequent wherever workflows are complex and multitasking and interruptions are common. (JAMA Network Open article, 11/2/20)