Abstract
It is widely acknowledged that information technology plays a critical role in improving patient safety. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems are widely recognized for their potential in reducing the frequency of medication errors, and for improving the quality of medical care [1,2], yet little is known about their adoption by attending physicians or community hospitals. A few hospitals in Saudi Arabia have recently introduced these systems using commercially available products. In the light of the importance of successfully implementing CPOE systems in such settings, we assessed the adoption of CPOE by attending physicians and dentists at the King Saud Medical Complex (KSMC) hospital, Ministry of Health, at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Our study involves the examination of physician satisfaction associated with the use of the system to place orders, and the evaluation of CPOE impact of on their work performance in providing a quality medical care.