Computer programs and tools to assist physicians and other health professionals with care decisions. CDS uses databases of signs and symptoms as well as best practices and current research findings to advise clinicians in care choices, with the goal of improving patient safety and quality, and, therefore, outcomes. Some aspects of CDS have gotten a bad rap, most notably alerts and notifications that are too frequent and create clinician “alert fatigue.”
There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to CDS systems. They can include order sets, drug interactions, care plans and protocols, critiques, alerts and other warnings, predictive analytics and relevant data summaries for patients.