Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), which are computer-based, provide doctors and healthcare professionals relevant information, guidance and advice right at the point where they need it. They can improve quality and efficiency, as well as reduce errors. CDSS is a tool that can help diagnose, treat, and manage patients suffering from specific conditions.
CDSS provides physicians with evidence-based guidance and information at the point they need it. This can improve patient care quality and decrease medical errors. CDSS allows physicians to keep up-to-date with all the current recommendations and guidelines, identify high-risk patients, and help them to manage certain diseases and conditions.
Computerized physician order entry (CPOE systems) are a special type of CDSS. They allow doctors to directly enter orders into a computer program, rather than writing them down on paper. These systems can be used to improve healthcare professional communication and reduce the risk of errors.
CDSS and CPOE are all subject to challenges. This system can be complicated and challenging to use and could require significant training. Some physicians may resist these systems.
There are pros and cons to linking Electronic Health Records (EHR), with other clinical information systems, such as Laboratory Information System(LIS), Pharmacy Information System/PIS and Radiology Information System(RIS), along with physician mobile devices. Accessing patient data across multiple systems can improve continuity and decrease errors. There may also be security and privacy concerns as well technical difficulties associated with the integration of different systems.
EHRs, CPOEs, and CDSS all can be called patient-centered management systems. They all have the same goal: to better serve patients by providing information about them, guidelines and suggestions, as well as reducing mistakes. These systems allow physicians to make better decisions, improve patient care and enable other healthcare professionals to be more educated.