ABSTRACT
Green antimicrobials can be used anytime, while red antimicrobials are always restricted, and prescribers are required to obtain approval from an infectious disease (ID) physician, typically via phone, before being allowed to prescribe. Once approved, the ID physician issues the prescriber with an approval number and the prescriber should document this approval number in the computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) functionality within the CPOE 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. AMS team members could approve the use of restricted antimicrobials from within the app, providing these staff with a means of undertaking antimicrobial reviews on the go.
