Preconceived Physician Attitude Toward Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE): Implications for Successful Implementation

There has been a societal and legislative push to implement computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems throughout hospitals nationally in recent years due in large part to the public\u27s awareness of an inordinate number of patient deaths due to medication errors in hospital settings. This mortality, and untold morbidity, became even more unacceptable when published findings suggested the majority of these 100,000 deaths each year could be avoided through the use of CPOE systems. Yet acceptance has been slow and only a fraction of the hospitals have implemented this technology due to large start up costs, enormous technological requirements, and prior well-published failures of such attempts largely due to physicians\u27 lack of acceptance. A total of71 participants were surveyed whose daily responsibility involved the ordering of medications, to determine what attitudes they had concerning CPOE systems. This was done at a facility scheduled to implement such a system over the next year. The data showed evidence supporting many of the current implementation strategies, while suggesting modification of others. Based on these findings, recommendations are made for future implementations with the hope of gaining enhanced physician acceptance and adoption, facilitating a more successful implementation of CPOE systems