Perceived Increase in Mortality After Process and Policy Changes Implemented With Computerized Physician Order Entry

To the Editor .— Han et al1 describe a retrospective study in which the mortality rate for interfacility transfers into an ICU was compared before and after implementation of a computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system. The authors found that the mortality rate increased from 2.8% (30 deaths of 1394 patient transfers during 13 months) before CPOE implementation to 6.6% (36 deaths of 548 transfers during 5 months) after. The authors conclude that the increased mortality was associated directly with modifications in standard clinical processes, including the following changes: (1) not allowing order communication until the patient was physically present and registered in the admitting system; (2) relocating medication dispensing to a central (rather than a satellite) pharmacy; (3) increasing the physical separation of nursing and physician staff during the time that orders were generated; (4) implementing computerized order entry; and (5) system-wide provider role changes to support the CPOE system. Perhaps the most important lesson from this study is that there exists an intimate association between care-delivery processes and health information technology. Any shift in the methods used to manage patient care (such as implementing and using a CPOE system) is associated with significant changes in clinical workflows, communication among providers, and distribution of responsibilities.2–4 Decades of research in medical informatics have underscored the importance of this observation, a message that was not lost on the authors. In this study, they note that the increased unadjusted mortality may reflect problems with the process of change, including the extremely rapid implementation plan adopted by their organization. The authors describe other major changes in workflow and patient care processes that occurred coincident with the CPOE system implementation. For example, their …