Modern technologies continue to improve the quality of medical services available to different patients. Institutions and departments embracing the power of health informatics solve numerous problems, streamline care delivery procedures and improve patients’ outcomes. The selected topic for this paper is that of computerized provider order entry (CPOE). This refers to a process whereby physicians enter and share treatment instructions via computer-based applications.
The captured information can include laboratory results, radiology orders, and medication. This topic seeks to examine the benefits of this new technology in the field of nursing. The technique empowers nurses to provide exemplary services and minimize errors. A proper understanding of CPOE can transform many patients’ experiences. This paper examines this technology and discusses how it can benefit clinical practice.
Example of Computerized Provider Order Entry
The use of CPOE is something that presents numerous benefits to both physicians and patients. This technological practice can be applied differently depending on the targeted scenarios or objectives. One of these approaches or examples is called inpatient computerized provider order entry (ICPOE). This branch of CPOE has unique features aimed at meeting the needs of different beneficiaries. The first aspect is that this technology is implemented as a powerful system for sharing orders in an inpatient healthcare setting. Physicians providing medical services to hospitalized patients will enter the required data electronically into drop-down menus and boxes (Lewing, Hatfield, & Sansgiry, 2017).
The first feature is that of ordering whereby entries are made via cell phones, workstations, or laptops. The second one is that of a patient-centered decision support system. Caregivers can use such devices to update patient data or information. The next feature is called patient safety aspects. ICPOE empowers practitioners to identify patients and review dosage recommendations (Wu, Wu, & Peng, 2016). The system is also portable since involved stakeholders can manage orders wherever they are. The aspect of billing is taken seriously whereby the system improves documentation. Reports are then generated for evaluation and analysis.
The selected example or technology can benefit clinical practice significantly. This CPOE type can improve efficiency in health services delivery. This is true since the system can enable physicians and clinicians to submit numerous orders electronically. Different departments will collaborate and engage in decision-making processes, thereby supporting the health needs of the targeted patients. This technology also streamlines all care delivery procedures.
Institutions and departments that ignore modern healthcare technologies will record numerous problems, including medication errors and poor patient outcomes (Lewing et al., 2017). The application of ICPOE can minimize such sentinel events and improve the level of patient safety.
Another outstanding advantage is that more patients can be involved throughout the care delivery process. Practitioners can also form multidisciplinary teams, inform patients’ relatives and parents about the targeted healthcare procedures, and solve emerging problems. This means that more individuals will eventually receive holistic medical support (Harrington et al., 2014). Physicians can use CPOE technology to instruct nurses throughout the care delivery process.
Personal Experience
There are several occasions when the selected topic impacted me personally as a healthcare provider. The first one occurred when my team was providing medical services to a young patient aged 11 years. The use of ICPOE made it is easier for the physician to enter and send relevant treatment instructions to different team members using the existing system in the facility. The received order contained useful information, including laboratory results, prescribed medications, and suggested care delivery practices. The system was also instrumental since it guided us to predict potential medical allergies, problems, and drug interactions. The acquired knowledge-empowered us to focus on the best practices for providing high-quality services.
The above example reveals that CPOE technology presents several benefits. My experience indicates CPOE can improve patient safety and support decision-making processes. Practitioners using it will solve emerging problems and ensure that high-quality services are available to the greatest number of individuals (Harrington et al., 2014). The second benefit is that this technology can make it easier for physicians to provide exemplary services to every patient. This is the case since errors and delays reduce significantly. This technology also presents certain disadvantages. During the care delivery process, I observed that a wrong entry could endanger the lives of different patients.
The reason behind this argument is that CPOE is not immune to inaccuracies. For example, a physician might enter inaccurate information for a specific patient. This means that there will be increased chances of medication errors and drug-drug interactions. Technologists can address this gap or disadvantage by introducing checklists to guide physicians and caregivers whenever placing new orders (Wu et al., 2016). It would, therefore, be appropriate for health professionals to consider these issues to revolutionize clinical practice.
Conclusion
CPOE is a powerful technology that has changed the way practitioners meet patients’ medical needs. The above example can guide physicians to provide high-quality health services to hospitalized individuals. Personally, I will always use ICPOE to improve the efficiency of care, minimize sentinel events, reduce errors, and maximize patients’ experiences. All medical professionals should utilize similar technologies to transform the country’s healthcare sector.
References
Harrington, L., Hardison, V. L., Coates, J., Wickham, V., Norris, B., & Kane, M. (2014). Computerized provider order entry (CPOE): Important nontechnical issues and considerations. Nurse Leader, 12(3), 54-57. Web.
Lewing, B. D., Hatfield, M. D., & Sansgiry, S. S. (2017). Impact of computerized provider order entry systems on hospital staff pharmacist workflow productivity: A three-site comparative analysis based on level of CPOE implementation. Journal of Hospital Administration, 7(1), 1-8. Web.
Wu, T. W., Wu, A. J., & Peng, T. R. (2016). A computerized provider order entry–based alerting system advising appropriate drug dosage for patients with renal insufficiency. American Journal of Medical Quality, 31(6), 607. Web.