The impact on patient safety of free-text entry of nursing orders into an electronic medical record in an integrated delivery system.
The introduction of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) has been shown to reduce the incidence of medication-related errors in hospitals. Successful implementation of CPOE and electronic health records requires redesigning workflows and analysis of information collected and training of staff to use these new systems. However, well intentioned processes that seem to solve a unique problem can sometimes go in an unanticipated direction for several reasons. This can have unintentional consequences, especially when the built-in safeguards are not engaged. This poster describes one organization's efforts to identify the causes of one such breakdown, and how the obvious solutions were inappropriate.
Reynolds
Katherine
K
Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, IL, USA.
Peres
Alan
A
Tatham
Judith M
JM
D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital; D009737:Nursing Records; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D018511:Systems Integration