Reactions 1509, p4 - 12 Jul 2014 Computerised provider order entry system improves safety in US A computerised provider order entry (CPOE) system would provide "excellent value" for investment in the US ambulatory care setting, and would be a "cost-effective strategy" for improving medication safety, state US- based investigators. They employed a decision-analysis model with a 5-year time horizon to assess the cost effectiveness of CPOE versus paper prescribing in The Everett Clinic, a mid-sized (400 providers) multidisciplinary medical group. According to the model, the cessation of paper prescribing and adoption of a CPOE strategy would cost the medical group $US18 million less, and would be associated with 1.5 million fewer medication errors and 14 500 fewer adverse drug events over 5 years. A sensitivity analysis confirmed that CPOE would remain the dominant option, even if its associated costs were doubled. The model was most sensitive to the number of specialty care providers, salary, the number and cost of chart pulls, and the number of prescriptions ordered annually. The probability that CPOE would be cost effective versus paper prescribing was 80% at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) value of $US0 per adverse drug event avoided, rising to more than 95% at a WTP value of about $US10 000. "Our results are strengthened by the conservative nature of our assumptions that were in favor of paper prescribing", the researchers contend. * Costs were calculated in 2010 values, and included those associated with hardware, software, maintenance, personnel, administration and prescribing; costs were discounted at...