Implementation of Computerized Physician Order Entry for Chemotherapy: A Latin American Experience.

Purpose: We describe the implementation process of a computerized physician order entry (CPOE) for outpatient chemotherapy at a Latin American hospital, with the intent of providing other institutions with general guidance and insight through our experience.

Methods: In 2012, under the direction of the Department of Medicine of the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, a multidisciplinary team composed of oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, and informatics engineers was formed to develop software for a CPOE for chemotherapy within a preexistent homegrown electronic medical record system in various phases. This included mapping and redesigning processes in an entirely electronic format, integrating the needs of the user for the development of electronic order sets, developing a checkpoint and a warning system to minimize prescription errors, and finally, training all the staff in implementation of the system.