Clinician decision support tools can reduce medical errors and improve care quality, but choosing the wrong one may increase costs, disrupt care quality and burden overworked staff, Wolters Kluwer experts said Oct. 23.
This market is complex and varied, they said, meaning nursing leaders should carefully consider whether a CDS option aligns with their organization's existing systems.
"...Because CDS tools are typically feature-rich and rapidly evolving, comparisons between them and selection of the right one that meets a healthcare organization's specific needs can be difficult," according to the healthcare research company.
Wolters Kluwer recommends healthcare leaders ask CDS companies these five questions:
1. Is the content evidence-based, up to date, and developed by active healthcare professionals?
2. Can nurses easily and quickly find the information they need — especially at the point of care?
3. Does the solution support the way nurses work by integrating seamlessly with existing systems such as EHRs and learning management systems?
4. What level of support is provided post-sale regarding implementation, training, driving staff usage, and ongoing optimization?
5. How does the CDS solution contribute to improved patient care and organizational goals, and how is ROI calculated?