A Consensus Statement on Considerations for a Successful CPOE Implementation

In May of 2001, 13 experts on computerized provider order entry (CPOE) from around the world gathered at a two-day conference to develop a consensus statement on successful CPOE implementation.  A qualitative research approach, including activities before, during, and after the conference, was used to generate and validate a list of categories and considerations to guide CPOE implementation.  Preconference activities included prior reading for participants to establish a shared knowledge base.  During the conference, participants shared success factors they had discovered during their implementation of CPOE, developed lists of success factors, and prioritized main discussion points.  Postconference activities included creating a "themes document" that reflected participants' consensus on CPOE implementation.  The general considerations before CPOE implementation include: motivation for implementation; CPOE vision, leadership, and personnel; financial costs; integration: workflow, health care process; value to users/decision support systems; project management and staging of implementation; technology; training and support 24x7; learning/evaluation/improvement.