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Implementation of CPOE and/or EMR

Use of a CPOE or EMR system was universally expressed by study participants as a way to facilitate communication and collaboration around patient care. Eighty-eight percent of those interviewed had already implemented, were currently implementing or had selected a vendor and were planning to move forward in the next 36 months with implementation of CPOE, EMR or both (see Figure 3). Of all the participants, only 12% reported not knowing if or when their organization might start either CPOE or EMR. The most common vendors reported by study participants whose organizations have selected one include Cerner, McKesson and Epic (see Figure 4).

Figure 3

Figure 4

Collaboration platform priorities

Study participants were asked to prioritize features that would comprise their ideal collaboration platform. Focusing on the use of collaboration technologies for activities such as reviewing documents and reports, managing agendas and timelines, and standardizing order sets and policies and procedures, a number of collaboration platform features were deemed to be high priority, including:

• Quick and easy access to documents
• Access to platform at any time and from anywhere via Internet
• Intuitive and easy-to-use content management system
• E-mail based notification for tasks and activities
• Document version control

Communication vehicles such as instant messenger, discussion threads and blogs were reported by study participants to be a lower priority, though more than 60% still said these vehicles would be at least a medium priority for their organization (see Figure 5).

Figure 5

Funding for collaboration technologies

Study participants reported that in most cases (73%), the IT department would be the team most likely to supply the funding to support implementation of collaboration technologies and make the final decision regarding acquisition. This finding is somewhat surprising given that the CMOs, VPMAs and other hospital leaders would most likely reap the greatest benefits from use of collaboration technologies. This finding highlights the need for open and effective communication between the decision makers/funding providers and the users who will benefit directly from these technologies (see Figure 6).

Figure 6

Additional study findings

Stay tuned! In the March 2007 publication of the HealthGate Compass, we will report on additional results from this study, including:

• Insight into the challenges of working with committees
• How committee-related challenges are being addressed
• Participants’ thoughts regarding progress of current quality initiatives

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