Question

What is the purpose of a CPOE and why is it key to an EMR?

Answer 1

Using CPOEs in lieu of traditional paper charts has several benefits. CPOE can enhance patient safety by reducing or eliminating medication errors. By enabling healthcare providers to quickly transmit orders electronically, CPOE can improve efficiency when submitting medication, lab and radiology orders to their respective departments or facilities. CPOE can also streamline reimbursements by flagging orders that may require preapproval from insurance plans, reducing a return on initially denied insurance claims.

When integrated with clinical decision support systems (CDSSes) and electronic health records(EHRs), CPOE further optimizes patient safety and efficiency of care. There are several important functions built into CPOEs, such as safeguards that are available to check for potential adverse drug events.

A CPOE system offers a variety of features, including some or all of the following:

• Ordering: Physician orders can be entered by the clinician into a workstation, laptop or secure mobile device versus writing orders on a paper chart.
• Patient-centered decision support: When integrated with CDSSes and EHRs, clinicians have up-to-date patient information, as well as a more complete medical history on the patient, enabling better care decisions.
• Patient safety features: CPOE enables doctors and nurses to make real-time patient identification, review medication dosage recommendations and screen for potentially adverse drug-to-drug or drug-to-disease interactions. This software can also check for patient allergies and treatment conflicts.
• Intuitive user interface: The order entry workflow is like that of traditional, paper-based order forms, enabling efficiency even among those who are new or infrequent users.
• Regulatory compliance and security: Access and information are secure and in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
• Portability: The CPOE system can accept and manage orders from all departments at the point of care through various devices, including wireless mobile laptops and tablets.
• Management: Reports are generated so they can be analyzed and evaluated, which helps determine if changes need to be made in staffing, productivity and inventory.
• Billing: Documentation is improved, referral and treatment preapprovals can be flagged and orders can be linked to diagnoses at the time of order entry.