Electronic oneChart System
Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) is an electronic/computerized system that allows physicians to enter patient care orders directly into the oneChart/Cerner system from home, the office, or any computer in the hospital. The CPOE Physician Portal provides physicians the latest information on the CPOE implementation at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare.
Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center is the latest facility to implement the oneChart system. Methodist North Hospital completed transition and CPOE will continue to be rolled out to all Methodist hospitals in 2009.
Research indicates that the implementation of CPOE can help reduce medication errors and improve patient care and outcomes:
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Electronic order entry eliminates the issue of illegible handwritten orders.
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Allergy and drug-drug interaction alerts help improve safety when medicating patients. A test of CPOE at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston showed a reduction in drug-related, preventable adverse events of 17 percent and serious medication errors of 55 percent.
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Online order entry reduces time from order entry to order action, making patient care more efficient.
Order sets make the Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) process easier and more efficient for physicians by grouping medication, nursing, and consult orders related to a particular condition or procedure, e.g., an admission order set could contain orders for vital signs, Clear Liquid Diet, and morphine 2 mg IV PRN for severe pain.
Each order set contains some pre-selected orders for medications, labs, etc. Physicians can pick and choose which orders to include. Order details can easily be changed before the orders are signed electronically in the In-Box. Physicians can access In-Box from any location with an Internet connection.
The CPOE order sets are created by physicians and caregivers from each service line. A multidisciplinary team from nursing, pharmacy, radiology, and lab reviews order sets for clinical accuracy and appropriateness. Order sets undergo a final review by physician champions from each service line and the Medical Staff Office's Quality Management team.