An efficient fault-tolerant out-patient order entry system based on special distributed client/server architecture.

An automatic order entry system is very important for processing out-patient information. This system not only helps physicians to enter their orders directly, but can also reduce order communication error and thus improve medical quality. Therefore, many hospitals have high aspirations to generate and implement direct order entry systems, but they are also concerned about the setbacks of system failure. In this paper, we present an effective and efficient fault-tolerant order entry system based on special distribution client/server architecture that satisfies the requirements of out-patient order entry very well. From the experimental results carried out on a prototype, we found that this system can improve the system response time of order entry and can also generate an operational method having a user friendly interface. The physicians can enter their orders easily, accurately, directly, flexibly and at a faster rate by making choices from standardized and personalized menus in this system.