CPOE Acceptance Still Slowed Down By Workflow Changes

Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) adoption rates have been very slow over the last few years, but now, driven by Meaningful Use pressure, more providers are adopting such technology. That being said, a goodly number of providers still haven’t managed to speed adoption, largely due to doctors’ resistance to changes in workflow, according to a new survey. The survey, in which vendor Imprivata looked at HIT trends, found that 45 percent of respondents were seeing success with CPOE adoption, with more than half their doctors placing orders using CPOE. This represents substantial progress from a few years ago, when I was seeing studies citing total adoption rates below 10 percent. That being said, 38 percent of respondents said that less than 25 percent of doctors were using CPOE. What’s slowing things down? Sixty-three percent of respondents said that physician resistance to workflow changes was the hangup. When asked what technologies could speed adoption of CPOE, respondents said single sign-on (74 percent), virtualized desktops (48 percent) and remote/mobile access (46 percent) were all effective ways to engage physicians in CPOE use. I’m not surprised to hear that single sign-on leads the pack; anything that reduces the hassle factor for users has got to be a winner.