Evaluating the Impact of Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems on the Quality, Safety, and Cost of Care in Massachusetts Community Hospitals

Award Amount: $371,856
Approval Date: April 14, 2009
Start Date: June 1, 2009
End Date: May 31, 2010
Brigham and Women's Hospital
1620 Tremont Street, 3rd Floor, BC3-2M
Boston, Massachusetts 02120-1613
Principal Investigator: David W. Bates, M.D., M.Sc.

Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) is one of the technologies at the forefront of efforts to enable health care organizations to provide better care more efficiently. Still, just one of 10 U.S. hospitals have adopted CPOE. Community hospitals, which account for most hospitalizations, face particular difficulties implementing the technology, owing to the substantial capital costs involved. This project will evaluate five community hospitals that recently implemented CPOE under the auspices of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The evaluation will determine how CPOE use has affected quality of care and what savings have accrued to hospitals and payers. With nearly $20 billion allocated in the federal economic stimulus package toward health IT adoption, this study will identify optimal strategies to accelerate adoption of this promising physician tool. This grant will be contingent on cofunding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and from nonprofit organizations or private foundations.