Saving Lives, Saving Money: The Imperative for Computerized Physician Order Entry in Massachusetts Hospitals

Massachusetts hospitals could prevent 55,000 dangerous medication errors every year and save $170 million annually by implementing Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems, according to the latest study by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the New England Healthcare Institute.

The first-of-its-kind study, conducted by Dr. David Bates of Brigham and Women’s Hospital with financial analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers, was based on an unprecedented review of 4,200 medical charts at six community hospitals in the Commonwealth. It found that on average, one in every ten patients admitted to these hospitals suffered a preventable medication injury such as a severe allergic reaction or dangerous interaction among medications.

CPOE systems could cut the preventable error rate by seventy percent, which would save each community hospital $2.7 million annually by reducing error rates, shortening length of hospital stays, and curtailing unnecessary drug tests and laboratory use.

Above: Panel members Dr. Mandel, Senator Moore, Lynn Nicholas, Dr. Halamka, and Secretary Bigby

View complete event photos>>

Below: Wendy Everett, Dr. Martin, Valerie Fleishman, Mitchell Adams, and David Fleming

The new study was unveiled last month at an event in Boston that drew more than 175 of the state’s top health care professionals and government leaders. The report findings were presented by study authors Mitchell Adams, Wendy Everett, David Bates, MD, and Geoffrey Coffman. Click here to view the report >>

Lucian Leape, MD, Chair of the Lucian Leape Institute offered opening remarks, and Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby, MD, led a panel discussion on the importance of CPOE adoption that included Lynn Nicholas, President of the Massachusetts Hospital Association; Robert Mandel, MD, VP for Health Care Services at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; Senator Richard Moore, Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; and John Halamka, MD, CIO of Harvard Medical School and CareGroup Healthcare System.

Major media outlets such as NECN and the Boston Globe also covered the event. View media coverage>>

During the morning panel Dr. Robert Mandel of Blue Cross announced that by 2012 all hospitals in Massachusetts would be required to use CPOE as a threshold for participation in their quality incentive programs and operate the systems according to performance standards to be developed by the Massachusetts Hospital CPOE Initiative.

Next Steps:
The Massachusetts Hospital CPOE Initiative, working in collaboration with stakeholders, will develop metrics-based performance standards that will ensure effective operation of CPOE systems in all Massachusetts hospitals. In addition, we will continue to provide comprehensive, ongoing implementation support to Massachusetts hospitals in all stages of CPOE planning, implementation and operation.

Upcoming Educational Forum

April 2, 2008
Hold the Date, CPOE 101: Foundations for a Successful Implementation
7:30am-3:30 PM
Waltham Woods Conference Center
facilitated by Navin, Haffty & Associates, LLC.
Hospitals are expected to be up and running with CPOE by 2012 and will be required to operate the systems according to performance standards to be developed by the Massachusetts Hospital CPOE Initiative in order to qualify for the Blue Cross incentive pool. Please join your colleagues for a peer learning session that will take you through the fundamentals required for a successful CPOE project. Anne Walsh will be the primary facilitator and will be joined by other staff. Attendees will receive sample Project Charter, Implementation Plans and Materials, sample GANTT charts and strategic planning tools to help them get started.

Target Audience: Hospitals that have either not yet begun to plan or are in the planning and budget stages. CPOE Steering Committee, CNOs, CMOs, COOs, Lead Pharmacist, Quality Directors, CIOs, any clinical or ancillary department involved with CPOE. This is a MUST program for anyone just getting started.

This program is in collaboration with the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and the Massachusetts Medical Society.

For further information or to attend, please contact Bethany Gilboard at gilboard@masstech.org

All of our programs are free of charge and hospitals are encouraged to attend as teams.

This Spring, watch for upcoming educational roundtables for Physician Leaders responsible for CPOE and IT within their organizations.

For further information regarding the Massachusetts Hospital CPOE Initiative or upcoming educational programs please contact:
Bethany Gilboard
Director, Health Technologies
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
email: gilboard@masstech.org
phone: 617-371-3999 ext. 201
masstech.org/ehealth