The Vanderbilt EvidenceWeb - developing tools to monitor and improve compliance with evidence-based order sets

CPOE systems hold the promise of both reducing medical errors and improving compliance with evidence-based guidelines. Evidence-based order sets have been used to make evidence-based guidelines actionable at the point of care. Investigators have conducted research into factors effecting order set use, but little has been documented regarding order set compliance. Under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center undertook a major effort to ensure order sets in the Vanderbilt CPOE system are evidence-based. The Vanderbilt EvidenceWeb was developed in order to monitor use and progress, and to provide feedback to clinical teams based on their requests for data. Monitoring tools and feedback to clinical groups regarding order set use and compliance have proved to be key components in improving delivery of evidence-based care.