ASHP guidelines on pharmacy planning for implementation of computerized provider-order-entry systems in hospitals and health systems.

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide guidance to pharmacists in hospitals and health systems on planning for, implementing, and enhancing safe computerized providerorder-entry (CPOE) systems. To date, most CPOE guidelines have concentrated on the functionality required of a CPOE system, despite the fact that most CPOE system implementations occur using commercial systems whose functionality is largely pre-determined. These guidelines are intended to help pharmacy directors, managers, informaticists, and project managers successfully engage in this type of CPOE system implementation. CPOE is commonly part of a larger health information technology (IT) plan or system implementation. Though many health care technologies impact patient care and pharmacy practice, this guideline will focus on CPOE only. This document is the first of a planned series of ASHP guidelines on CPOE and related technologies and addresses the planning phase of a health-system CPOE implementation, primarily focusing on acute care and associated ambulatory care clinics. The guideline will focus on using CPOE in the medication-use process, though it is important to realize that CPOE includes all orders for patient care (laboratory, nursing, respiratory, and others). Topics covered in these guidelines include