A neonatal hyperalimentation microcomputer program was designed to generate labels, and calculate mixing instructions. Artificial intelligence techniques including, interviewing experts and an inference algorithm, were employed to provide decision support in identifying clinically inappropriate orders. Development cost was $10,000. The program was alpha phase tested comparing pharmacists and technicians performance. Task time was high and prone to human mathematical error for pharmacists and technicians using an electric typewriter and calculator. All subjects performed poorly with low confidence in manually determining inappropriate orders, although pharmacists scored slightly higher. Task time was decreased 17 minutes with no errors using the program. Appropriateness, confidence and composite performance were vastly improved with decision support. Pharmacists composite performance was slightly higher.