Impact of electronic prescribing in a hospital setting: A process-focused evaluation

ObjectiveTo evaluate effects of a natural CPOE implementation in a hospital setting and inform the efficacy of using CPOE rather than traditional paper medication orders.DesignA multiple-baseline, quasi-experimental study of a naturally occurring CPOE intervention, with a non-equivalent control site.MeasurementsCompliance with medication-ordering protocols and time to first dose of antibiotics.ResultsMedication orders placed using CPOE were significantly more compliant than paper-based medication orders, and first doses of antibiotics were delivered significantly faster when ordered with CPOE than when placed using the standard paper-based system (p < .01).ConclusionFindings support the use of CPOE and justify the need for interventions to increase CPOE adoption and consistent use among physicians.