title: Can utilizing a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system prevent hospital medical errors and adverse drug events?
abstract: Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems allow physicians to prescribe patient services electronically. In hospitals, CPOE essentially eliminates the need for handwritten paper orders and achieves cost savings through increased efficiency. The purpose of this research study was to examine the benefits of and barriers to CPOE adoption in hospitals to determine the effects on medical errors and adverse drug events (ADEs) and examine cost and savings associated with the implementation of this newly mandated technology. This study followed a methodology using the basic principles of a systematic review and referenced 50 sources. CPOE systems in hospitals were found to be capable of reducing medical errors and ADEs, especially when CPOE systems are bundled with clinical decision support systems designed to alert physicians and other healthcare providers of pending lab or medical errors. However, CPOE systems face major barriers associated with adoption in a hospital system, mainly high implementation costs and physicians' resistance to change.
authors.affiliation: Krista Charles, MS, is an alumni of the Healthcare Program of the College of Business at Marshall University, Graduate College, in South Charleston, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.affiliation: Margaret Cannon, MS, is an alumni of the Healthcare Program of the College of Business at Marshall University, Graduate College, in South Charleston, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.affiliation: Robert Hall, MS, is an alumni of the Healthcare Program of the College of Business at Marshall University, Graduate College, in South Charleston, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Alberto Coustasse, DrPH, MD, MBA MPH, is an associate professor of the Healthcare Program of the College of Business at Marshall University, Graduate College, in South Charleston, West Virginia.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coustasse
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050316:Medical Order Entry Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D018511:Systems Integration; D014481:United States
keywords: adverse drug events; computerized provider order entry; cost; hospitals; meaningful use; medical errors