CPOE Definition
Computer-based Provider Order Entry -- CPOE is the portion of a clinical information system that enables a patient’s care provider to enter an order for a medication, clinical laboratory or radiology test, or procedure directly into the computer. The system then transmits the order to the appropriate department, or individuals, so it can be carried out. The most advanced implementations of such systems also provide real-time clinical decision support such as dosage and alternative medication suggestions, duplicate therapy warnings, and drug-drug and drug-allergy interaction checking (Osheroff, 2005).
The Leapfrog Group has a narrower definition of CPOE. A hospital that has made Leapfrog's CPOE leap has 75% of all medication orders enetered by physicians using a computer system that provides some level of clinical alerts. Leapfrog results are self-reported by hospitals via an unaudited survey process.
References
Osheroff JA, Pifer EA, Teich JM, Sittig DF, Jenders RA. Improving Outcomes with Clinical Decision Suppport: An Implementer's Guide, Health Information Management and Systems Society, 2005.
