Unexpected mortality increase after CPOE implementation

A new article in the December issue of Pediatrics finds that mortality rates at a major academic hospital more than doubled last year after the implementation of a commercial computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system. The study, which was conducted at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, found mortality increased from to 2.8 percent to 6.57 percent. Researchers attribute the jump to the problems doctors and staff had in adjusting to the new system. Criticism of the steep learning curve (and those infamously sucky entry screens) has been a major obstacle for providers moving to CPOE for a long time.

- see this abstract from Pediatrics