Computerized Provider Order Entry Systems

Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems have transformed medication ordering from a paper-based process—fraught with the risk of transcription errors, delays, and disconnections—to a digital one, with clinicians entering medication and other orders into an electronic system that transmits requests to the department responsible for carrying out the orders. For the medication-use process, CPOE can reduce medication errors from illegible and incomplete orders, offer support at various points in the ordering process, and facilitate efficient order processing.

Most CPOE systems in use today are deployed as part of the electronic health record (EHR). As a result, comprehensive patient information can be stored in one place. Multiple providers can view and use the record at any given time, and pharmacists have access to a complete medical record to review the appropriateness of drug orders. (Bubalo et al.)

In the ambulatory setting, electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is used to send a prescription order directly to a pharmacy from the point of care. Similar to CPOE, e-prescribing reduces the risk of errors from illegible or unclear...