The national inpatient medication chart: critical audit of design and performance at a tertiary hospital

Re: “The national inpatient medication chart: critical audit of design and performance at a tertiary hospital”, the research article by J Alasdair Millar, Robyn C Silla, Glenda E Lee and Ann Berwick, in the 21 January issue of the Journal (Med J Aust 2008; 188: 95-99). The caption for Box 5 suggested that the difference in colour between the two medication charts could be seen. In fact, the Box was printed on a black and white page. The colour version of the figure is shown below. The web version of the article was shown in colour and required no correction.

5 Prescriptions for oxycodone in the PRN section of the national inpatient medication chart (top) and in the combined prescription panel in the Royal Perth Hospital chart MR246 (bottom)

Successive doses are written horizontally in the national inpatient medication chart (NIMC) — a novel design feature — but vertically in MR246 (and all other pre-existing charts). Thus, each column represents a specific dose in the NIMC but a specific date in the displaced charts. The NIMC grid is cramped but entries consume more chart space, and time-related changes in the requirements for the drug are obscured, whereas in MR246 this is apparent by inspection. Note also alternate day shading in the MR246, which aids visual inspection, and the buff colour, which allows easy identification in case records. PRN = pro re nata (as needed).