Table 1.

Levels of CDS relating to error prevention and the associated impact on prescriber workflow

Level of CDS		Description	Impact on workflow
5	Restricted	The prescriber is prevented from proceeding with the prescription with a hard-stop alert.	Interruptive
4	Permitted	An alert appears where a reason needs to be given by the prescriber to over-ride it in order to progress.	Interruptive
3	Guided	Elements of the prescription order are auto-populated for the prescriber (eg, dose, frequency, route).	Interruptive/ passive*
2	Alert	An alert appears, but the prescriber does not need to over-ride this with adding a reason in order to progress.	Passive
1	None	No CDS appears at the point of prescribing.	None

*Passive if the guided decision support is accepted, or interruptive if it is over-ridden.

CDS, clinical decision support.