Implementation of Physician Order Entry: User Satisfaction and Self-reported Usage Patterns.

This is an article review of Lee, F., Teich, J., Spurr, C., & Bates, D. (1996). Implementation of Physician Order Entry: User Satisfaction and Self-reported Usage Patterns. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 3(1), 42-55. http://jamia.oxfordjournals.org/content/3/1/42

Background

• The authors focus on the patterns and user satisfaction on physician order entry (POE) in one hospital. The correlation of satisfaction was also studied.

Methods

• Physicians and nurses were subjected to surveys. Staff from both the medical and surgical services participated.

Results

• “Physicians were more satisfied than nurses and medical staff were more satisfied than the surgical staff,” (Lee, 1996). Physicians valued off floor access most while nurses valued the legibility and accuracy most. Results showed development efforts on improving speed, on-line help addition and emphasizing benefits of POE.

Conclusion

• Physicians and nurses have proved to be two totally different users that have different perceptions and expectations. Physicians ideally would prefer to use POE to place orders off-floor, while nurses place emphasis on legibility and accuracy of orders. It has clearly shown how important POE should be defined and developed.

Comments

• Physician order entry (POE) also known as computerized provider order entry CPOE is not only for physicians. The fact of the matter is nurses and in some cases, MAs are the main users of POE. It is becoming more and more important to take all users’ consideration when developing or improving a system or application. This article narrowed down user satisfaction criteria and successfully identified usage patterns to show the different aspects of physician order entry advances.