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Varying rates of patient identity verification when using computerized provider order entry
Emilie Fortman1, A Zachary Hettinger1,2, Jessica L Howe2
1Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) patient identity verification occurred more often than not. However, verification rates differed significantly between CPOE systems, impacting patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Patient Safety
- Clinical Workflow Analysis
Background:
- Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) systems are widely used in healthcare.
- Effective patient identity verification within CPOE is crucial for patient safety.
- Understanding verification practices in different CPOE systems is essential for optimizing workflows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the rates of patient identity verification during CPOE.
- To identify when and where in the ordering process verification occurs.
- To compare verification practices across different CPOE systems.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-five physicians from four healthcare systems participated.
- Simulated patient scenarios were used with Epic and Cerner CPOE systems.
- Physician eye movements were recorded and analyzed to track verification behavior.
Main Results:
- Patient identity was verified in 62.4% of instances, significantly more than not.
- Vendor A CPOE showed significantly higher verification rates than Vendor B.
- Verification occurred more frequently before order signing with Vendor A (88.4%) compared to Vendor B.
Conclusions:
- CPOE system design significantly influences patient identity verification rates.
- Variations in verification practices have potential patient safety implications.
- Further research into CPOE design and training is needed to improve verification consistency.
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