Creating a culture of medication administration safety: laying the foundation for computerized provider order entry.
BACKGROUND
Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems are recognized as an effective tool for reducing preventable adverse drug events; however, implementation is a complex process that involves much more than installing new software. The literature addresses the use of these systems in large tertiary care hospitals and university settings; yet there is little information on their implementation and use in smaller hospitals. Beaver Dam Community Hospital, a small, rural hospital, set about laying the foundation for implementing CPOE. Actions were taken in terms of context (the culture and attitude, acceptance, and importance regarding the change), process (roles, workflow, and policies relating to the change), and content (how-to, such as procedural steps and rules). USE OF THE RAPID-CYCLE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS: The team elected to use the rapid-cycle improvement process for implementation to allow it to move ahead quickly, adjusting changes as necessary for maximum success. Each change was considered an individual Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, with its own action plan and measurement for successful implementation.
The Patient Safety Committee has begun the planning of actual implementation--Phase II. Issues addressed include how to phase in the system--in which units to bring up first, how to structure the transitional period, how to redesign workflow, and how to plan role changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The changes already implemented contribute to medication safety and are important from that perspective alone, without the use of CPOE. The addition of an electronic system will enhance the organization's ability to provide safe, accurate medication administration.
Karow
Helen S
HS
Surgical Services, Beaver Dam Community Hospital, 707 University Ave, Beaver Dam, WI 53916, USA. hkarow@bdch.org
D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012984:Software; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014922:Wisconsin