The human factor: unexpected benefits of a CPOE and electronic medication management implementation at the University Health Network.

INTRODUCTION For the most part, literature and research around the benefits of computerized physician order entry (CPOE) and electronic medication management (EMM) have focused on the reduction of adverse events and medication errors. While these are major anticipated benefits relating to patient safety, the University Health Network (UHN) discovered that there are other unexpected benefits to be gained, related to human factors, from implementing CPOE and EMM. And they, too, can improve patient safety.