title: Evaluation of a command-line parser-based order entry pathway for the Department of Veterans Affairs electronic patient record.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve and simplify electronic order entry in an existing electronic patient record, the authors developed an alternative system for entering orders, which is based on a command- interface using robust and simple natural-language techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a randomized evaluation of the new entry pathway, measuring time to complete a standard set of orders, and users' satisfaction measured by questionnaire. A group of 16 physician volunteers from the staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System-Seattle Division participated in the evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen of the 16 physicians (81%) were able to enter medical orders more quickly using the natural-language-based entry system than the standard graphical user interface that uses menus and dialogs (mean time spared, 16.06 +/- 4.52 minutes; P=0.029). Compared with the graphical user interface, the command--based pathway was perceived as easier to learn (P<0.01), was considered easier to use and faster (P<0.01), and was rated better overall (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians found the command- interface easier to learn and faster to use than the usual menu-driven system. The major advantage of the system is that it combines an intuitive graphical user interface with the power and speed of a natural-language analyzer.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA. christian.lovis@dim.hcuge.ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lovis
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Chapko
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Baud
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hoey
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fihn
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009323:Natural Language Processing; D010346:Patient Care Management; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014584:User-Computer Interface