Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems with clinical decision support can yield long-term savings and improved patient care, although the short-term implementation costs for hospitals are high, says an analysis in the August 2015 issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. The authors used a cost-effectiveness analysis to compare the use of CPOE to paper ordering among patients admitted to hospitals with 25 beds and larger. Despite significant implementation costs for the systems, the researchers calculated that the per hospital savings (in 2012 dollars) over the useful life span of the systems range from $11.6 million for hospitals with 25 to 72 beds to $170 million for hospitals with 267 beds or more. The quality-adjusted life years (QALYS) gained by reducing medication errors and preventable medication events range from 19.9 years for small hospitals to 249 QALYs for the largest hospitals. An accompanying editorial says that the findings make a "significant contribution" to the discussion about CPOEs and should end the debate about the technology's value. The analysis supports widespread adoption of CPOE systems as a "strategy that provides good value for the investment," the editorial says.

HRC Recommends: When a CPOE system is used correctly, it can help a healthcare facility reduce medication errors and streamline patient care. Planning and implementation must be carefully enacted for the facility's CPOE system to be successful. Factors to consider include staff readiness, network capabilities, staff education, planning for system terminals, financing, staff clearance levels, and alarm protocols.