Impact of an Automated STAT Order Alert System on the Timely Administration of Antibiotics in an Acute Tertiary Hospital in Singapore

Background: Timely administration of STAT antibiotics is critical in emergencies like sepsis yet delays often result from communication gaps between physicians and nurses. Purpose: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Automated Stat-Order Alert System (ASOS), which delivers real-time alerts to nurses to reduce delays in antibiotic administration in a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used to analyse 4,003 STAT antibiotic orders. The Mann-Whitney U-test compared administration times before and after ASOS implementation. Results: Automated Stat-Order Alert System implementation significantly reduced mean administration time from 75.1 min (SD 53.3) to 67.6 min (SD 44.5) ( P = .005), with significantly fewer delays beyond 120 min (χ 2 = 25.387, P < .001). Conclusion: The ASOS improved Stat-Order Alert System improved the timeliness, consistency, and distribution of STAT antibiotic administration. Further system and workflow optimization is needed to meet the 60-min target consistently.