Computerized physician order entry
From HMCwiki
Computerized physician order entry, or CPOE, is a process whereby the instructions of physicians regarding the treatment of patients (particularly hospitalized patients) under their care are entered electronically by the physician, and communicated directly to the responsible individuals or services. In the past, physicians have traditionally hand-written or verbally communicated such orders, which are then transcribed by various individuals (such as unit clerks, nurses, and ancillary staff) before being carried out. This is one process that has been widely identified as a source of medical errors.
American hospitals have been slow to embrace the technology of CPOE, primarily related to its cost, the degree of training required to use the system, and physician reluctance to change practice patterns. However, as more hospitals become aware of the financial benefits of CPOE systems, and more physicians enter the workforce with a familiary with computers, adoption of the technology has become more widespread.
The 'key' element in CPOE is in Decision Making. The immeicate transfer of knowledge is translated to the physician/nurse as a series of possibilities and directives linked to tagged advisory icons which appear when a milestone or even a trend is spotted. The decision making purpose is to improve quality (less adverse events and greater patient satisfaction)and subsequent cost.
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