CPOE Regulatory Problems

CPOE solves several regulatory problems such as illegibility, abbreviations, and the sort. It creates one glaring problem which I have seen cause a shutdown of a system. Orders must be co-signed within a brief time period, usually less than 48 hours. We all know that doctors do not date or time their orders or their signatures. It is common for physicians to sign orders days, weeks, nay even months after the fact. The regulators are aware of this but have no method to detect it. However, the CPOE will give the regulator the time to the second that the order was entered, and to the second when it was signed. Regulations will need to change, or a method such as email co-signing will need to be introduced.