The design, implementation and evaluation of computerized clinic patient management and clinician order entry systems in a PMTCT clinic in Uganda

A computerized clinic patient management system (CCPMS) and a portable clinician electronic order entry system were designed for the HIV/AIDS PMTCT research and programme activities at Mulago hospital. Clinicians satisfaction with the CCPMS was evaluated using a quantitative questionnaire and 848 records were collected to evaluate the portable clinician order entry system. Most clinicians thought the CCPMS improved clinic and drug inventory management. 52% thought it slightly impacted on the quality of patient care and 90% preferred using the CCPMS. Hospital tablet PC order entry system data were found to be more complete and significantly more accurate with 0.8% errors daily compared to 4.1% errors daily in paper based registers (p<;0.0001). A lower number of missed infant MTCT prophylaxis dosing was also observed in the tablet PC data (4% compared to 14%). Computerized information systems can enhance HIV/AIDS care and research efforts and clinicians are willing to adopt them.