Even though computerized provider order entry (CPOE) requirements are the first core objectives listed for both Meaningful Use Stages 1 and 2, only 14.6% of healthcare providers had a CPOE support system in place as of 2013.
Perhaps the reasoning behind such low usage is the perceived difficulty of achieving CPOE core objectives. While Stage 1 calls for providers to use CPOE for at least 30% of unique patients with at least one medication on their medication list, Stage 2 increases these requirements to 60% of medication and 30% of laboratory and radiology orders.
Fortunately, these objectives aren’t hard to reach if they are approached in the proper manner.
Use Order Sets
If your EHR allows you to build order sets, you already possess a valuable tool for reaching CPOE requirements.
With order sets, creating orders can be simplified to just a few clicks as they allow you to customize for specific types of patients or diagnoses. Because you’re already mandated to use CPOE, you might as well make the process as stress-free as possible.
As an added benefit, order sets reduce errors because data for specific conditions should only be entered once as opposed to every time a unique patient with said condition comes in for treatment.
Designate Roles
According to the Meaningful Use requirements, any licensed healthcare professional who meets state, local and professional guidelines can enter orders for purposes of meeting the objective. Unfortunately, deciding who is going to enter the orders is proving to be a problem for many practices.
The key is designating the point person prior to the go-live date.
Is the entry person going to be you, a nurse practitioner or a medical assistant? While there should be multiple people capable of creating orders to avoid inefficiencies in case of an absence, giving one person responsibility over CPOE makes them accountable for Meaningful Use success. This should lead to better results.
ePrescribe
Meaningful Use Stage 2 requires that 50% of all permissible prescriptions be written via ePrescriptions. Thankfully, ePrescribing is a component of CPOE, so as long as you’re taking care of your ePrescribing requirements you are on the way to meeting the CPOE objective as well.
ePrescribing is also a simple, straightforward measure, which should only take a couple of clicks to execute. Take full advantage of the feature to kill two birds with one stone.
Stage 2 is now less than two months away. It’s important to simplify CPOE as much as possible before then, so you can quickly earn your incentive money and boost your practice’s efficiency in the long run.
