Cost-effectiveness of an electronic medication ordering system (CPOE/CDSS) in hospitalized patients

K.M. Vermeulena, J.E. van Doormaalb et al.Creating Cost-effectiveness of an electronic medication ordering system (CPOE/CDSS) in hospitalized patients. International Journal of Medical Informatics Volume 83, Issue 8, August 2014. http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxyhost.library.tmc.edu/science/article/pii/S1386505614000963#

Introduction

Computerized Physician Order Entry, com-bined with basic Clinical Decision Support Systems (CPOE/CDSS) is considered to decrease medication errors and subsequently preventable adverse drug events (ADEs). However these systems are expensive.This study aims to study the cost effectiveness of CPOE/CDSS compared to the traditional paper-based medication ordering.

Methods

This study was conducted in two hospitals, a University Medical Center and a general teaching hospital. The economic evaluation was performed alongside an interrupted time series study on the effectiveness of CPOE/CDSS.

For the effectiveness study. an interrupted time series method was done,having two periods of measurement: a pre implementation measure-ment, in which the paper-based medication ordering system was evaluated, and a post implementation measurement, in which the CPOE/CDS system was evaluated.Outcomes measured were medication errors and preventable adverse drug events.

In the economic evaluation,only costs related to medication ordering made in the hospital were calculated and taken into account in the cost-effectiveness analysis for all prescriptions of all included patients. Results are presented in ratios of incremental costs to incremental effects (Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio,ICER).