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ISSN: 3107-7617 (Online) | Frequency: Half-yearly | Type: Open Access | Peer Review: Double Blind

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Digital Transformation in Medication Safety: A Systematic and Bibliometric Analysis of High-Alert Medication Management in Healthcare Settings

  • Hurrin Zia Hurrin Zia Ph.D. Scholar Department of Hospital Management & Hospice Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. India Hurrin Zia ORCID Id ,  
  • Samiyah Khan Samiyah Khan Ph.D. Scholar Department of Hospital Management & Hospice Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. India Samiyah Khan ORCID Id ,  
  • Bhupinder Chaudhary Bhupinder Chaudhary Associate Professor & HoD Department of Hospital Management & Hospice Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi India Bhupinder Chaudhary ORCID Id ,  
  • Ishrat Rasool* Ishrat Rasool Corresponding author Assistant Professor Department of Hospital Management & Hospice Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. India Ishrat Rasool ORCID Id
Received: October 14, 2025
Accepted: November 13, 2025
Published: December 24, 2025
Volume: 1 (2) | Page: 51-64

Abstract

The use of high-alert medications such as anticoagulants, insulin, and chemotherapeutic agents is associated with a significant risk of harm to patients because of their narrow margin of safety and complex methods of administration. Medication errors remain a major problem in healthcare institutions that continue to rely on manual, paper-based systems for prescribing, dispensing, and administering medications. Digital transformation has therefore emerged as a central area of focus for improving medication safety and reducing the incidence of preventable medication errors, particularly for the subset of drugs that carry the greatest potential for catastrophic harm.

By means of both systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis, this systematic review allows for mapping of the academic landscape in terms of the influence of digital transformation on high-risk medications safety and development of future research areas focusing on the interaction between digital healthcare technologies and the management of medications and patient safety associated with the usage of high-risk medications.

The systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of publications from 2019 – 2025 were carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to enable testing and replication of the methodology. The relevant literature was obtained from the key databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, and was analyzed using inclusion and exclusion criteria. The analyzed studies were analyzed with the help of R-compatible Bibliometrix and its Biblioshiny module, which enables analysis of the features of the publication and significant works on the topic.

As a result, there were 60 papers included into this research. The study found that electronic technology, including e-prescribing, clinical decision support system (CDSS), barcode medication administration (BCMA), and e-medication administration records (eMAR) brings the decrease in medication administration errors and increases the level of safety for patients. Thematic analysis produced three dominant research themes: patient safety, high-alert medications, and intensive care. Bibliometric analysis showed that the volume of published research has increased steadily since 2021 and that international research collaboration, while present, remains moderate at 13.33 percent.

Digital technology has been identified as an important enabler of a safer system for managing high-alert medications by increasing accuracy, standardization, and clinical decision-making through the provision of real-time information. Nonetheless, challenges related to system usability, technology infrastructure, and workforce readiness must be addressed for digital transformation to be effective. Achieving sustainable improvements in medication safety and overall healthcare quality will require strategic action plans that integrate technology adoption, staff training and education, and the development of supportive institutional policies.

Keywords: High-Alert Medications, Patient Safety, Digital Health, Medication Errors, Bibliometric Analysis

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