Health Information Technology
- General Issues
- Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
- Medication Delivery and Dispensing Systems
- Other Technologies
Listed below are the most current and relevant resources on health information technology. For a complete list of all the resources ever listed on this page, view the MIPS TIPS Research Digest complete list of health information technology resources.
ARTICLES
GENERAL ISSUES
Systematic Review: Impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care Full text
Large healthcare systems that developed their own IT and committed time and resources to implementing it tended to have good results.
Expected and Unanticipated Consequences of the Quality and Information Technology Revolutions Abstract
Exhorts healthcare providers to implement IT initiatives carefully, anticipating the errors and bugs that always accompany new computer systems, and to avoid relying on any one measure of patient safety.
COMPUTERIZED PROVIDER ORDER ENTRY (CPOE)
Patient Safety Primer: Computerized Provider Order Entry Full Text
One of eight resources that explain the key concepts in patient safety, this Primer includes information on Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). It includes background information, evidence of effectiveness, implementation issues, and details of the current context.
Effectiveness of Computerized Provider Order Entry with Dose Range Checking on Prescribing Errors. Abstract
In this study, CPOE successfully reduced opioid prescribing errors.
Unexpected Increased Mortality After Implementation of a Commercially Sold Computerized Physician Order Entry System. Full Text
After a children’s hospital implemented CPOE institution-wide over the course of one week, mortality rates increased.
Computerized Provider Order Entry Implementation: No association with increased mortality rates in an intensive care unit. Full Text
Implementation of CPOE in a paediatric ICU was followed by a nonsignificant decrease in mortality rates.
Potential Benefits and Problems with Computerized Prescriber Order Entry: Analysis of a voluntary medication error-reporting database. Abstract
Although voluntary reports suggested that CPOE reduced the frequency of adverse events, errors continued to occur for a variety of reasons.
Error Reduction in Pediatric Chemotherapy: Computerized order entry and failure modes and effects analysis. Abstract
Errors in chemotherapy decreased following the implementation of a CPOE system.
Implementation of a Computerized Physician Order Entry System of Medications at the University Health Network: Physicians’ Perspectives on the Critical Issues. Abstract
Physicians revealed key factors that contributed to the success of CPOE implementation at Toronto’s University Health Network.
Development of the Leapfrog Methodology for Evaluating Hospital Implemented Inpatient Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems. Abstract
Simulated patients and drug orders were used to test the ability of CPOE systems to detect prescribing errors.
Impact of a Computerized Clinical Decision Support System on Reducing Inappropriate Antimicrobial Use: A randomized controlled trial. Full Support
The computerized system did not improve mortality rates but produced time and cost savings.
Chemotherapy Dose Limits Set by Users of a Computer Order Entry System. Full text
Investigated the dose limits set by oncologists as a precursor to developing standardized limits to be programmed into computerized systems.
Clinical Application of a Computerized System for Physician Order Entry with Clinical decision Support to Prevent Adverse Drug Events in Long-Term Care. Full Text
Describes a computerized system that provides doctors with immediate feedback about any risks associated with a drug they intend to prescribe.
CPOE: Incremental progress. Abstract
Suggests that US hospitals have, overall, been slow to implement Computerized Physician Order Entry systems.
Computerized Provider Order Entry: Strategies for successful implementation. Abstract
Advises nurses on strategies they can use to increase organizational acceptance of CPOE.
MEDICATION DELIVERY AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS
Partnering for a Successful Technology Conversion. Full text
Describes the organizational aspects of the successful introduction of a new infusion pump system.
Three Key Levers for Achieving Resilience in Medication Delivery with Information Technology. Abstract
Uses the concepts of cognitive systems engineering to suggest several ways to make medication delivery more reliable.
IVs First: A new barcode implementation strategy. Full text
Makes recommendations for the application of Health IT to IV systems.
Computerization Can Create Safety Hazards: A bar-coding near miss. Full text
A patient received the wrong bar-coded wristband, illustrating that computerization does not eliminate the need for human vigilance.
Workaround Error – The case. Full text
When nurses attempt to save time by bypassing the safety features of Automatic Dispensing Machines, errors may result; this article seeks ways to remedy the problem.
Errors Associated With Medications Removed From Automated Dispensing Machines Using Override Functions. Full text
Reports on the problem of clinicians overriding the safety functions of ADMs.
OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
The Future Is Now: Implementation of a Tele-Intensivist Program.
Journal of Nursing Administration, 2006; 36:1-49. Abstract
Describes the use of computer- based innovations to improve patient safety, focusing on the creation of a “virtual ICU” for a hospital network.
PERSPECTIVES
Patient Care Visibility: Improved patient care at a glance. Full text
Large-screen displays with up-to-date information about each patient can make caregiving tasks more streamlined.
Information Technology may not be “IT” for Patient Safety. Full Text
Argues that computer-based technologies for enhancing patient safety are less useful than their proponents have claimed.
Making CPOE Work: Redesign workflows to optimize benefits. Full text
Recommends that organizations implement CPOE in a way that reduces rather than increases workload, and use small-scale tests before implementing it on a large scale.
