Analysis of the online order entry process in an integrated hospital information system.

In Kochi Medical School Hospital, many online order systems have been developed as a part of the integrated hospital information system named IMIS KOCHI. The prescription, laboratory and radiology orders are used frequently and entered into the system by physicians. The distribution of entry duration of these orders by physicians was analyzed and it was found that the order entry is a completely random event and the entry process consists of the two Poisson processes; the quick process and the slow process. The two Poisson processes were observed even in the do-prescription order without correction by trained physicians. It is speculated that the quick process depends on availability in the order entry system and the slow process depends on peculiarities in clinics, and the mental condition of physicians.