Computerized Provider Order Entry - Assignment Example

Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) The success of a healthcare system is highly dependent on technology in the modern world. Numerous technologies have been developed for use in the health care industry and most of them have led to the improvement of health care services. One of these technologies in health care include computerized provider order entry systems. This paper focuses on this system. The American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) (2011) defines a computerized provider order entry system as a "computer network system that allows direct entry of medical orders by the person with the licensure and privileges to do so" (n.p). These systems are used for various reasons in healthcare. It is worth noting that this system makes it possible for individuals in the health care industry to insert precise and detailed analytical information relating to results from medical investigations to identify presence of disease, prescription information, as well as nursing information and guidelines. This helps individuals to keep proper electronic records. CPOE is a computerized system that helps link medical practitioners with patients medical information, links a medical practitioner with his or her colleagues in the health sector, links all computerized systems in a health institution, and also links one medical unit with other units or departments. Benefits of computerized provider order entry systems (CPOE) CPOE helps reduce errors in the medical field. Some of the information entered in the CPOE system include prescribed amounts of medicines, sensitivities, and patients medical history. Availability of all this information is important as it helps healthcare providers consider all the benefits and possible effects of medications and hence minimize inaccuracies. A methodical investigation conducted in Brigham and Womens Hospital focusing on the effectiveness of CPOE, there was a decline medical mistakes or inaccuracies by fifty five percent in a period of four and half years (Doolan and Bates, 2002) To understand the benefits of CPOE, it is imperative to compare it with paper-based systems. According to Doolan and Bates (2002), "The advantages of CPOE over paper-based methods include decreased transcriptions, increased accuracy and completeness, and the ability to enter orders in multiple locations" (A4). This systems also makes it possible for health care providers to make resolutions regarding the patients health status aptly and timely as all information is readily available and computerized. The implementation of CPOE improves competence and effectiveness in health delivery systems. This is achieved through computerizing medical information or data and hence other professionals involved in the delivery of services are able to access it instantaneously. Medical practitioners are also able to plan for medical appropriately. There are some damages to patients in health care associated with drugs. For instance, issuing wrong medication to a patient results to harmful effects. In most cases, these problems leads to patients extending their stay in the hospital and hence increasing the cost of care. Since CPOE helps minimize damages to patients caused by drugs particularly die to wrong dosage, it helps to reduce the cost of health care through reducing the time patients spend in hospitals (Lehmann and Kim, 2006). As mentioned earlier, all information regarding the clients medical history such as allergies is entered in the CPOE. When a medical practitioner prescribes medicines with potential sensitivity reactions to the patient, the system automatically informs the medical practitioner and in doing so, the right medications are issued. It is also very difficult for a medical practitioner to issue analogous prescriptions when using a CPOE as he or she will be alerted by the system is such an occasion. This is one of the causes of adverse drug effects or damages. It is also of significance to posit that some medical practitioners are sometimes engaged in arithmetical computations in order to estimate the dosage to issue to patients. This is attributed to the fact that some dosages are dependent on the weight, height, and age of the patient. CPOE helps reduce errors associated with these computations as all computations are done automatically by the system (Lehmann and Kim, 2006). CPOE also contributes to homogeny and consistency of services in health care. Health institutions using CPOE are more likely to stick to proposed rules and regulations pertaining to treatment of various medical conditions. First Consulting Group (2003) posits that: CPOE can offer multiple mechanisms for presenting treatment or diagnosis specific decision support to physicians at the point of ordering, including standardized order sets for diagnoses or therapies, current practice guidelines for the optimal use of medications, and recommendations for additional or adjunct orders to consider in specific situations. Such decision support helps to reduce unnecessary variations in care by steering physicians toward recognized best practices (p. 11). Obstacle to implementation of CPOE Implementation of CPOE is faced by a number of obstacles in the health care sector. Employment of CPOE requires a lot of dedication as a lot of time is spent to enter the required information, instructions, and guidelines into the system. It is also important to note that results from investigations conducted in the health sector have shown poor investment in terms of technology in comparison with other sectors. There ought to be effective assimilation of technology in the health sector for CPOE to be employed successfully. Regardless of the fact that CPOE has long-term benefits in terms of delivery of services and minimization of medically related errors, it is very expensive to introduce (Doolan and Bates, 2002). The high costs of implementing CPOE is linked with the fact that employees need to be trained to use the technology, and also strategies must be put into place to assimilate the CPOE system with other systems within the institution. Other issues associated with the implementation of CPOE include pessimistic sentiments associated with the use of technology, creation of novel or additional inaccuracies and miscalculations, too much reliance on technology, constant demands associated with technology, and introduction of new and additional responsibilities for nurses and other health care providers. Implementation of CPOE may also result to unforeseen consequences associated with organizational change (American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM), 2011). Conclusion Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) is referred to as a computer system that allows nurses and other medical practitioners enter medical information, instructions, or guidelines. This computer system has a lot of advantages. For instance, it reduces medical errors that could otherwise be attributed to issuance of wrong medications or duplication of medications. This system also improves efficiency of health services as computerization of information allows other medical practitioners involved in the process of care access the information instantaneously. Through reducing medical errors, time spend in hospitals by patients is significantly reduced and hence resulting to reduced cost of health care. There are a number of obstacles associated with the implementation of CPOE such as financial problems due to the costly nature of implementing the system, and the reluctance of health care sector to invest in technology. References American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) (2011). Risk Management Handbook for Health Care Organizations, 3 Volume Set. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell. Doolan, D. F., & Bates, D. W. (2002). Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems in Hospitals: Mandates And Incentives, 21(4), 180-188. First Publishing Group. (2003). Computerized Physician Order Entry: Costs, Benefits and Challenges: A Case Study Approach. Retrieved from http://www.leapfroggroup.org/media/file/Leapfrog-AHA_FAH_CPOE_Report.pdf Lehmann, C. U., & Kim, G. R. (2006). Computerized Provider Order Entry and Patient Safety: Pediatric Clinics of North America, 53, 1169-1184. Read More