Your facility received the flowing performance data after implementing a clinical decision support system (CDSS). The goal is to have 100% compliance with CDSS use.
CDSS use among providers was 81.4%
76% of providers approved of the newly implemented CDSS
Cited reasons for not using CDSS included mistrust of the system and a fear of potential diagnostic errors
Based on the above performance data and metrics, design an interprofessional educational poster to mitigate the mistrust of the proposed CDSS and help increase compliance. Address the following requirements.
Include the following sections in the poster (detailed criteria listed below and in the grading rubric):
Problem Identification
Identify the intended audience.
Present the concern.
Use the provided performance data.
Benefits
Discuss at least three benefits of using CDSS.
Include statistical data supporting CDSS use.
Provide an in-text citation from one scholarly source to support your writing.
Risks
Describe at least three risks associated with bypassing the use of alerts in the CDSS.
Provide an in-text citation from one scholarly source to support your writing.
Strategies
Provide at least three strategies for providers to increase the use of CDSS.
Provide an in-text citation from one scholarly source to support your writing.
Reflection
Reflect on your learning and consider how the knowledge will improve your effectiveness as an advanced practice nurse.
Discuss how you may use this tool in your practice.
Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy: By processing vast amounts of patient data against a knowledge base, CDSS can flag potential overlooked conditions, serving as a critical safety net and improving diagnostic precision.
"Meta-analyses confirm that CDSS improves compliance with process of care in 64% of studies and enhances clinical outcomes in 13% of studies" (Kawamoto et al., 2005).
Risks Associated with Bypassing CDSS Alerts
Ignoring or overriding CDSS alerts introduces significant patient safety risks, often due to "alert fatigue" or perceived time constraints.
Risk of Adverse Drug Events (ADEs): The most immediate risk of bypassing medication alerts is missing critical drug-drug, drug-allergy, or drug-dose interactions, leading directly to preventable patient harm.
Clinical Inertia and Missed Preventive Care: Bypassing alerts related to screening, vaccinations, or chronic disease management can result in clinical inertia, delaying necessary intervention and worsening patient prognosis.
Increased Liability and Documentation Failure: Deliberately ignoring a standardized alert creates a vulnerability in quality assurance. If a subsequent error occurs, the lack of adherence to the system may be cited as a failure to meet the standard of care.
Sample Answer
Benefits of Consistent CDSS Use
Integrating CDSS into practice is a powerful strategy to elevate patient safety and optimize care delivery.
Reduced Medication Errors: CDSS alerts dramatically decrease prescribing errors. Studies show that integrated CDSS systems can reduce serious medication errors by up to 66% (Kaushal et al., 2003).
Improved Adherence to Guidelines: CDSS standardizes care by providing real-time prompts based on the latest evidence. This consistency reduces variation in care, ensuring all patients receive guideline-recommended treatments.