CPOE Survey Shows Widespread Adoption, but CHIME Members Urge Caution

ANN ARBOR, MI - The adoption of computerized provider order entry appears to be more widespread than previously thought, although full use of the systems for order entry by clinicians may take longer than many expect.

Those are among the findings of a survey of members of The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), which surveyed its members in late June regarding their status in implementing CPOE.

Results of the survey were forwarded on to the Office of the National Coordinator for Healthcare IT, which is currently refining a definition of what constitutes “meaningful use” of electronic medical records. The first draft of the meaningful use matrix, released in mid-June, stipulated use of CPOE “for all order types, including medications.”

Respondents of the survey include 335 CHIME members, 199 of which reported their organizations currently have CPOE “at some level of adoption.” When asked how long they believed it would take from implementation to achieve 100 percent adoption, 26.6 percent of respondents estimated it would take two years, 34.5 percent estimated it would take three years, 17.1 percent estimated it would take four years, and 13.3 percent predicted it would take five years. Only 8.5 percent of respondents said they believed it could be achieved in one year.

Other survey findings show the use of CPOE by clinicians is relatively low. Of systems with CPOE in place, 44.7 percent reported that physicians entered 20 percent or fewer orders on CPOE systems. Of 175 respondents with less than 100 percent adoption by physicians, 113 predict usage will increase by only 20 percentage points over the next year from the current level at their organization.

Though the results suggest that CPOE usage by clinicians will ramp up slowly, some respondents report progress toward widespread use of the systems for reporting and communicating orders. Of the organizations with CPOE in place, 21.6 percent say they expect to achieve 90 percent order entry in the next 12 months.

The findings of this survey imply more healthcare organizations are beginning to implement CPOE systems than originally believed, but the rate at which clinicians are entering all orders on these systems is far slower than originally anticipated. CHIME believes the survey results can serve as a guide to the Office of the National Coordinator in defining meaningful use and eligibility for the $17 billion set aside for healthcare IT under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Anticipation of the ARRA has already achieved a significant goal: the HIT industry is stimulated,” said Senior Vice President and CIO for Baylor Health Care System, CHIME Board of Trustees Member and Co-Chair of CHIME’s Advocacy Initiatives, David Muntz. “A newfound focus on CPOE has spurred discussions at every level of our healthcare organizations, from the Board to the bedside. In addition, all participants in the care delivery and wellness management environments are fully engaged in discussions about the implications of the changes which have been suggested. I’m encouraged that this catalyst will effect very positive changes for the patient and the communities we represent. Our goal as CIOs is to reveal to the participants the steps and degree of effort which will be required to achieve meaningful outcomes.”

A complete summary of the findings may be found: Online here.


About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) was formed with the dual objectives of serving the professional development needs of healthcare CIOs and advocating the more effective use of information management within healthcare. CHIME's events and activities were designed to reflect that purpose, including CIO-oriented surveys, education programs, and networking activities. With membership of more than 1,300 CIOs, CHIME has established itself as the premier organization serving the needs of healthcare CIOs. CHIME's educational initiatives are supported by the CHIME Foundation, a group of 69 providers of healthcare IS products and services. To learn more about CHIME and the CHIME Foundation, see www.cio-chime.org.

Contact:
Katie Weitkamp
Communications Coordinator, CHIME
(734) 665-000
kweitkamp@cio-chime.org
www.cio-chime.org

UPDATED: 7/1/2009 3:37:25 PM