Evaluation of a Command-line Parser-based Order Entry Pathway for the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Patient Record
- Christian Lovis,
- Michael K Chapko,
- Diane P Martin,
- Thomas H Payne,
- Robert H Baud,
- Patty J Hoey,
- Stephan D Fihn
- Affiliations of the authors: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington (CL, MKC, THP, PJH, SDF); School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (DPM); University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland (RHB)
- Correspondence and reprints: Christian Lovis, MD, MPH, Integrated Electronic Patient Record Group, Division of Medical Informatics, University Hospital of Geneva, 21, Micheli-du-Crest, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; e-mail: 〈christian.lovis{at}dim.hcuge.ch〉
- Received 9 December 2000
- Accepted 14 May 2001
Abstract
Objective To improve and simplify electronic order entry in an existing electronic patient record, the authors developed an alternative system for entering orders, which is based on a command- interface using robust and simple natural-language techniques.
Design The authors conducted a randomized evaluation of the new entry pathway, measuring time to complete a standard set of orders, and users' satisfaction measured by questionnaire. A group of 16 physician volunteers from the staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System–Seattle Division participated in the evaluation.
Results Thirteen of the 16 physicians (81%) were able to enter medical orders more quickly using the natural-language–based entry system than the standard graphical user interface that uses menus and dialogs (mean time spared, 16.06 ± 4.52 minutes; P=0.029). Compared with the graphical user interface, the command-–based pathway was perceived as easier to learn (P<0.01), was considered easier to use and faster (P<0.01), and was rated better overall (P<0.05).
Conclusion Physicians found the command- interface easier to learn and faster to use than the usual menu-driven system. The major advantage of the system is that it combines an intuitive graphical user interface with the power and speed of a natural-language analyzer.
