Case Analysis
How might you evaluate the CPOE implementation process at University Health Care System? Give examples of different methods or strategies you might employ.
Since the University Health Care System intends to roll out the CPOE using a phased-in approach, I will evaluate the implementation process during its different initial phases. First, I will monitor workflow progress and how the CPOE project has impacted the hospital’s operations. This analysis will ascertain whether the CPOE implementation process is on the right track and not incapacitating the hospital’s clinicians and doctors’ work. Since the hospital will have identified the different features and functionalities of the CPOE, I will then evaluate whether the implemented system meets the expected requirements. This analysis will also entail assessing whether the CPOE vendor has delivered what was initially quoted as the system’s description.
I will also assess the CPOE’s aspects, such as technical functionalities, user-friendliness, and different interfaces. If the hospital’s staff is trained yet most of them experience difficulty understanding how the CPOE functions, it would imply that they require further training to attain a seamless transition, or the system is too complex. My evaluation will also entail collecting feedback from the different stakeholders who will be interacting with the system in order to determine any aspects of the CPOE that need to be re-examined during the implementation process. Lastly, I will monitor the costs incurred during the implementation, as well as the expected time to ensure the rollout process does not excessively dig into the hospital’s resources.
How would you respond to the board’s desire for a “return on investment” from this initiative? Is it a reasonable request? Why or why not?
The return on investment will measure the performance of the project after a given period. As much as the board wishes to be updated on the return on investment, this measure can only be calculated after the implementation process is over and the hospital is gaining financial benefits from the project. When the hospital can ascertain the total cost of implementing the CPOE and also measure the value of the system, it will then be able to determine its return on investment. The return on investment can be calculated by subtracting the initial value of the CPOE from its current value or net return, then multiplying by 100.
It is challenging to calculate the return on an investment after implementing the CPOE since there are various factors that cannot be quantified. For instance, it is difficult to quantify benefits, such as improved job satisfaction and patient outcomes. These benefits contribute to the revenue generation process, yet their values cannot be measurable for the purpose of calculating ROI. The most common quantifiable element that will be used to determine the ROI will be an increase in revenue or profit margin. Therefore, it is evident that the board’s request is reasonable, but it will require ample time to be attained.
Assume you are to lead the evaluation component of this project. You have reviewed the goals for the project. What process would you use to develop a plan for assessing the value of CPOE? Who would be involved? What roles would they play? How would you decide on the best metrics to use? What baseline data would you want to collect or review?
In order to evaluate the value of the CPOE, I will assess the extent to which the hospital has been able to attain the goals of the project since its inception. To achieve the assessment, my plan will entail gathering information pertaining to the attainment of the various objectives during the inception of the project and after its completion. I will collect the data using methods such as questionnaires and personal interviews. I will involve various hospital stakeholders, such as patients, nurses, and doctors. The nurses and doctors will compare their operations prior to rolling out the project and after its integration. They will provide information on the impact of the CPOE on objectives such as reducing medical errors and enhanced efficiency. The patients will give their views on how the program has impacted patient care and safety. The best metrics will involve gathering data that directly correlates with the project’s objectives. Having collected these data, I will evaluate whether rolling out of the CPOE project has driven the hospital towards attaining its desired objectives or not.