ABSTRACT
Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) functionality within the computerized provider order entry is limited, making it difficult to identify restricted antimicrobials, to document approvals, and to review expired approvals. In an attempt to streamline the antimicrobial approval process, the AMS team, in collaboration with pharmacy, the information technology department, and a human factors expert, designed a mobile application to facilitate AMS. Perhaps what was needed was simply a more effective communication effort to address the differing perceptions of both the AMS problem and the mobile app solution, which might have more effectively supported the adoption of the app. AMS team members could approve the use of restricted antimicrobials from within the app, providing the staff with a means of undertaking antimicrobial reviews on the go. Green antimicrobials can be used anytime, while red antimicrobials are always restricted, and prescribers are required to obtain approval from an infectious disease physician, typically via phone, before being allowed to prescribe.
