What obstacles prevent computer systems from improving the medical industry? How can these obstacles be removed?

The CPOE systems that have been developed to help doctors make better decisions still face many obstacles and it is these obstacles that are preventing CPOE systems from being a standard in hospitals around the nation. It is the same technology designed to aid hospitals in helping patients that is also the problem. At the University of Pennsylvania the system created errors and scattered patient data drug-ordering forms across different computer windows. This increased the chances of physicians ordering the wrong medications. It is because of these types of problems that still exist in the CPOE systems that many healthcare facilities are willing to invest in these systems. These systems also do not come at a cheap price. CPOE systems cost $8 to $12 and it is that price tag that hospitals see over any benefits the system may provide. Hospitals do not want to invest so much money in a system that still has problems and does not have an immediate return on the investment. Many doctors also argue that the system is not any better than a human diagnosis. The skepticism of how much the CPOE systems can do and the high costs are the biggest obstacle to the greater implementation of the system and is the reason why only 5 to 10% of hospitals use them. If the technology was perfect and problem free, more hospitals might be willing to invest, but that is not the case.

The only way to solve the problems is to improve the CPOE systems. If the technology is better and glitches become an issue of the past, hospitals would no have problems implementing the system. Even with better technology, there will still be resistance to the extremely high cost of making the CPOE system a part of the hospital. If something can be done to make the technology cheaper to produce, the number of hospitals using CPOE systems would increase. Money is the biggest issue and unless it is dealt with, the common use of CPOE systems may never be a reality.

Are CPOE and DDS systems successful solutions? What people, technology, and organization issues are involved in the use of these systems?

CPOE and DDS systems are good solutions for the common mistake of prescription errors, but they are not yet successful enough that every healthcare facility has begun to use them. These systems are still susceptible to technology errors that prevent the system from working to its full potential. CPOE systems must be filled with the hospital’s information by the staff and doctors. They do not come fully equipped and ready to use. The hospital and its staff must make sure the information is placed into the system and constantly updated to ensure the best care for its patients. The system not only aids doctors in trying to make the most accurate decisions possible, but meant to increase the efficiency of the hospital by allowing doctors to look at information on the go without going back to their office or going to a nurse every time they need to check something. Doctors can look up information on laptops instead. The importance of the technology is that it improves the organization of the hospital and helps it run better.

Has the medical industry correctly identified the problems it faces? What alternative solutions are available?

The medical industry has recognized the fact that errors happen and how it can negatively affect patients. This is why many healthcare facilities have taken steps to aid doctors and nurses in making better decisions about their patients by implementing the use of computerized physician order entries or CPOEs. These kinds of systems are meant to reduce prescription and dosage errors for mediations, keep doctors updated on treatment guidelines, and ordering unnecessary tests. They store important information including small facts that doctors may have forgotten and help doctors make more accurate decisions, reducing the amount of patients that are negatively affected by doctor errors.

What problems are hospitals and physicians encountering in diagnosing diseases and prescribing medications?

The biggest issue facing many hospitals and doctors involves prescription mistakes. The majority of mistakes involve human errors such as fatigue, bad handwriting, and memory lapses. These errors in patient prescriptions are not always caught in time and it is both the hospital and patients that feel the negative impact of the mistake. These kinds of mistakes that lead to adverse drug events make up 41% of hospital admissions and over $2 billion in inpatient costs every year. Doctors have also made the mistake of prescribing drugs to patients without looking at the interaction of the drugs with previous medication. This has led to the deaths of over 7,000 people each year.