Metroplex Health System took a giant leap forward for patient safety and joined ranks with an elite national group of advanced hospitals.

According to Carlyle Walton, president and CEO of Metroplex Health System, the days of handwritten physician and provider orders for all inpatients came to an end today as the hospital converted to a new, computerized system, referred to as Computerized Physician Order Entry designed to drastically reduce medical errors and enhance patient care.

“We have joined the top 4 percent of the nation’s hospitals in spearheading the way to incorporating fully integrated electronic medical records systems,” Walton said. “This is gratifying for everyone in the Metroplex family and Adventist Health System, because it’s another instance where we are adopting new technology to make our hospital a world-class facility and provide care of the safest and highest quality for our community.”

Physicians and providers will now enter their medical orders directly into Metroplex Health System’s electronic medical record system -- called iConnect -- to eliminate the trail of paper orders and notes that can delay patient care and contribute to medical errors. Estimates show that between 100,000 and 250,000 patients across the country die each year from medical errors, according to Dr. Philip Smith, vice president and chief medical information officer for Adventist Health System.

By implementing a full-scale CPOE system, Smith said that 75 percent of medication errors can be reduced.

“Just eliminating handwriting alone eliminates errors because there’s less chance of misinterpretation,” he said. “But with other systems in place, such as a system to recognize drug interactions or allergy interactions for patients, these errors are reduced even further.”

Walton said it is only possible for a hospital to adopt CPOE if members of the medical staff are willing to embrace the change, put away their doctor’s pad and pen, and accept typing on a computer keyboard instead. “It also requires a team of dedicated individuals to lead the process through implementation, he added.

“Through their commitment to making a complete change in how they deliver patient orders, our physicians and providers have shown their commitment to doing what is best for patients and what is best for Metroplex Health System,” Walton said. “This is the age of ever-changing health-care technology, and our organization is honored to help lead the charge ahead.”