November 9, 2010 - Today, computerized provider order entry (CPOE) went live at Florida Hospital DeLand, placing it in the top seven percent of hospitals in the county. Computerized Provider Order Entry is the latest phase of electronic medical record (EMR) technology.

“Computerized Provider Order Entry transforms the way we provide care to our patients because it emphasizes patient safety by dramatically reducing the risk of medication and order entry errors," said Daryl Tol, Florida Hospital DeLand President/CEO. "It also helps doctors to be more efficient in patient care."

A dramatic step forward in improving patient safety and health care efficiency, CPOE allows orders to be entered electronically, eliminating errors in deciphering doctors’ handwriting. The program also reduces repeat tests and improves turnaround times for results. On average, patients go home from the hospital sooner, reducing costs, according to a Harvard Medical School study.

Implementation of CPOE, which began with a series of town hall meetings, was accomplished through the combined commitment of leaders at Florida Hospital DeLand, Adventist Health System, the medical staff, and a dedicated group of specially-trained associates, known as Super Users. Many physicians played an integral role in helping to build the system as well and will continue to provide input to improve the design.

“We know how important CPOE is to our patient care,” said Tol. “I am proud of our physicians and hospital staff for their dedication to improve health care technology which in turn furthers our commitment to providing the best patient care to our community.”