Computerized physician order entry (CPOE), the process which allows a physician to use a computer to directly enter medical orders, is being heralded as one solution to the patient safety problem, yet few hospitals have implemented it. This presentation will describe results of

a survey about hospital use of CPOE in the U.S.,
a five year qualitative research project exploring success factors for CPOE implementation, and
a continuing project concerning the unintended consequences of CPOE.