The impact of computerized provider order entry systems on medical-imaging services: a systematic review

This is a review of Georgiou A., Prgomet M., Markewycz A., Adams E., Westbrook J. 2011 article, “The impact of computerized provider order entry systems on medical-imaging services: a systematic review”.

Abstract

The authors conducted a systematic review on existing research to assess the impact of CPOE systems on medical-imaging services and patient outcomes by evaluating and observing fourteen different studies. They concluded that CPOE system has a potential to improve imaging services efficiency and effectiveness.

Methods

Authors identified different indicators on the impact of CPOE implementation on medical imaging services, containing:

• Ordering behavior
• Test ordering efficiency and turnaround times
• Indicators of patient outcome

Moreover, they extracted the available technical features of such CPOE system in the literature. These features including an in-house (homegrown) software development or commercial purchases. Besides, a knowledge about system integration with other external systems like Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) has been collected.

Findings and Discussion

Among fourteen studies which met authors’ research criteria, ten studies used a pre or post-intervention comparison design, when eight of them discussed benefits, and three studies evaluating ordering and reporting impact on turnaround times. Based on the research findings, the authors concluded that CPOE has a strong potential to increase efficiency and effectiveness of medical imaging services.

Comments

This is an interesting review about CPOE possible impacts on medical imaging quality of services. The authors concluded that although these potential benefits (efficiency gains, improved medical imaging selection, and imaging service appropriateness) had a positive progress, more research must be conducted to collect adequate amount of evidence on the approaches for achieving success in adapting CPOE systems for medical imaging services. The unique and diverse nature of medical imaging department leads researchers to investigate more on not only potential benefits of CPOE on medical imaging centers, but also on the barriers of adopting CPOE and decisions support systems for imaging services.