Clinical decision support systems use in Wisconsin

Wright MO, Knobloch MJ, Pecher CA, Mejicano GC, Hall MC. Clinical decision support systems use in Wisconsin. WMJ. 2007 May;106(3):126-9.

Introduction

Authors start with a depiction of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) importance and continue with a mentioning of the potential for CDSS advances in the light of the release of Health Information Technology Plan in the US. Since the receptiveness of existing CDSS remains unknown in the state of Wisconsin, authors attempt to assess utilization, level of interest, and potential barriers to implementation of CDSS among physicians providing inpatient care in Wisconsin.

Methods A Web-based survey consisting of 20 questions e-mailed to 5783 members of the Wisconsin Medical Society via the on-line survey provider Zoomerang. Survey questions were all mandatory (except for final comments) and participants were asked to asses they attitudes toward CDSS using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results Out of 5783 members contacted, 496 (9%) responded and 356 (72%) were eligible for the survey. About 38% of respondents reported that CDSS were in place in their facility. Few existing users of CDSS reported being dissatisfied (2%) although 36% of the respondents were unfamiliar with CDSS or their use in medical practice, and the remaining 26% stated that their institution did not have CDSS. Most (79%) described themselves as receptive to new decision support tools, though the most commonly anticipated barrier to implementation was physician acceptance.

Discussion With about 40% of the survey respondents reporting the availability of CDSS in their institutions, the findings of this article raise the need for strategically planning and developing computer-based systems.

Comment Despite physicians expressing a generally favorable interest in CDSS, they remain in limited use in Wisconsin and only 11% of the existing systems are computer-based.