title: Associations between the concurrent use of clinical decision support and computerized provider order entry and the rates of appropriate prescribing at discharge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electronic health record systems used in conjunction with clinical decision support (CDS) or computerized provider order entry (CPOE) have shown potential in improving quality of care, yet less is known about the effects of combination use of CDS and CPOE on prescribing rates at discharge.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the effectiveness of combination use of CDS and CPOE on appropriate drug prescribing rates at discharge for AMI or HF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combination use of CDS and CPOE is defined as hospitals self-reporting full implementation across all hospital units of CDS reminders, CDS guidelines, and CPOE. Appropriate prescribing rates of aspirin, ACEI/ARBs, or beta blockers are defined using quality measures from Hospital Compare. Multivariate linear regressions are used to test for differences in mean appropriate prescribing rates between hospitals reporting combination use of CDS and CPOE, compared to those reporting the singular use of one or the other, or the absence of both. Covariates include hospital size, region, and ownership status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 10% of the sample reported full implementation of both CDS and CPOE, while 7% and 17% reported full use of only CPOE or only CDS, respectively. Hospitals reporting full use of CDS only reported between 0.2% (95% CI 0.04 - 1.0) and 1.6% (95% CI 0.6 - 2.6) higher appropriate prescribing rates compared to hospitals reporting use of neither system. Rates of prescribing by hospitals reporting full use of both CPOE and CDS did not significantly differ from the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although associations found between full implementation of CDS and appropriate prescribing rates suggest that clinical decision tools are sufficient compared to basic EHR systems in improving prescribing at discharge, the modest differences raise doubt about the clinical relevance of the findings. Future studies need to continue investigating the causal nature and clinical relevance of these associations.
authors: Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA.
authors: M E
authors: ME
authors: Patterson
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Marken
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Simon
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Hackman
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D006801:Humans; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'
keywords: Electronic health records and systems; clinical decision support; guidelines and protocols; inpatient computerized provider order entry; medication management; quantitative methodologies
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