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In today’s healthcare environment, the ability to make timely and accurate decisions can mean the difference between a positive outcome and a preventable error. Clinical Decision Solutions (CDS) are digital tools designed to assist healthcare professionals by combining patient data, clinical knowledge, and drug databases into real-time, actionable guidance. When integrated with systems like Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Computerised Provider Order Entry (CPOE), CDS deliver point-of-care support that elevates clinical quality, safety, and efficiency.
Enhancing Patient Safety
One of the core functions of CDS is to safeguard patients by reducing medication-related errors. Studies reveal that up to 65% of hospitalised patients are exposed to potentially harmful drug combinations [1]. CDS can proactively check for drug – drug interactions, allergies, contraindications, and dosage inconsistencies, alerting clinicians before the medication is prescribed [2].
When paired with EHR data, CDS deliver personalised alerts—such as avoiding contraindicated drugs in pregnant patients or adjusting doses based on renal function. These interventions help reduce adverse drug events and protect patient wellbeing [2][3].
Improving Clinical Management
CDS also plays a vital role in streamlining care delivery. By embedding evidence-based guidelines, standardised order sets, and protocol reminders directly into clinical workflows, CDS improves guideline adherence and decision consistency [4].
Clinicians are alerted when patients meet criteria for follow-up tests, specialist referrals, or even clinical trial enrolment [5]. This support improves operational efficiency and ensures patients receive timely, appropriate care.
Cost Containment
Effective deployment of CDS can significantly reduce operational costs. By limiting unnecessary tests and interventions, CDS optimises the use of clinical resources. For example, a cardiovascular ICU that used CDS to space out routine blood tests to 24-hour intervals saved over US$700,000 annually [6][7].
In Germany, a hospital leveraged CDS to switch patients to formulary-approved medications with over 90% succes – resulting in fewer errors and lower drug costs [8].
Diagnostic Support
Some CDS platforms incorporate diagnostic support, offering clinicians a list of likely diagnoses based on patient input and clinical signs. Despite initial challenges such as system complexity and low uptake [10], newer AI-enhanced tools have shown strong performance—such as a fuzzy logic system that correctly diagnosed peripheral neuropathy in 93% of cases [11].
These tools aid clinical decision-making, especially in high-stakes or ambiguous cases, by providing clinicians with evidence-based diagnostic insights.
Empowering Patients
As healthcare evolves toward more collaborative models, CDS supports a key shift: empowering patients as active participants in their care. When integrated with Personal Health Records (PHRs), CDS can help clinicians interpret patient-generated data and issue timely responses.
For instance, diabetes patients using wearable glucose monitors can transmit data via consumer health platforms like Apple HealthKit into EHRs. Through CDS, clinicians can quickly assess these data and offer proactive recommendations [12][13][14].
This interconnected approach promotes shared decision-making, improves monitoring of chronic conditions, and strengthens the provider–patient relationship.

Association with Clinical Decision Support: MIMS Integrated
MIMS Integrated is a trusted Clinical Decision Solutions platform used by hospitals and clinics across Asia-Pacific. It delivers real-time drug safety and clinical decision support tools tailored to local healthcare systems, languages, and formularies.
Designed to integrate seamlessly with EHRs, CPOEs, and prescribing platforms, MIMS Integrated supports:
- Real-time alerts for drug–drug interactions, contraindications, allergies, and dose errors
- Multilingual content and regional formularies for contextual accuracy
- Localised decision support embedded within clinician workflows
- Improved continuity of care, reducing variation in prescribing and patient risk
By embedding evidence-based content at the point of care, MIMS Integrated not only enhances clinical safety and efficiency—it also contributes to a more informed, empowered patient journey. As CDS evolves alongside digital health, MIMS Integrated bridges the gap between smart technology and smarter healthcare.
Why Choose MIMS Integrated for Your Clinical Decision Solutions?
In a healthcare environment where every second counts, MIMS Integrated delivers trusted, locally relevant Clinical Decision Solutions that elevate patient safety and support faster, smarter clinical decisions. Whether you’re driving a digital transformation or looking to reduce preventable medication errors, MIMS Integrated is your partner for reliable, real-time CDS.
✅ Proven drug safety alerts embedded in your clinical systems
✅ Customisable to local languages, formularies, and workflows
✅ Supports clinical excellence while enhancing patient trust and care continuity
✅ Scalable across departments and institutions
Get in touch – Join leading hospitals and health systems across the region that trust MIMS Integrated to make every clinical decision count!
REFERENCES
- Vonbach, P., Dubied, A., Krähenbühl, S. & Beer, J. H. Prevalence of drug-drug interactions at hospital entry and during hospital stay of patients in internal
- Helmons, P. J., Suijkerbuijk, B. O., Nannan Panday, P. V. & Kosterink, J. G. W. Drugdrug interaction checking assisted by clinical decision support: a return on investment analysis. J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. Jamia. 22, 764–772 (2015)
- Eslami, S. et al. Effects of two different levels of computerized decision support on blood glucose regulation in critically ill patients. Int J. Med. Inf. 81, 53–60 (2012).
- Kwok, R., Dinh, M., Dinh, D. & Chu, M. Improving adherence to asthma clinical guidelines and discharge documentation from emergency departments: Implementation of a dynamic and integrated electronic decision support system. Emerg. Med. Australas. 21, 31–37 (2009)
- Embi, P. J., Jain, A., Clark, J. & Harris, C. M. Development of an electronic health record-based Clinical Trial Alert system to enhance recruitment at the point of care. AMIA Annu. Symp. Proc. 2005, 231–235 (2005).
- Calloway, S., Akilo, H. & Bierman, K. Impact of a clinical decision support system on pharmacy clinical interventions, documentation efforts, and costs. Hosp. Pharm. 48, 744–752 (2013)
- Algaze, C. A. et al. Use of a checklist and clinical decision support tool reduces laboratory use and improves cost. Pediatrics 137, e20143019 (2016)
- Pruszydlo, M. G., Walk-Fritz, S. U., Hoppe-Tichy, T., Kaltschmidt, J. & Haefeli, W. E. Development and evaluation of a computerised clinical decision support system for switching drugs at the interface between primary and tertiary care. BMC Med. Inf. Decis. Mak. 12, 1 (2012).
- Berner E. Clinical Decision Support Systems: Theory and Practice 3rd edn. See more. (2016).
- Berner, E. S. Diagnostic decision support systems: why aren’t they used more and what can we do about it? AMIA Annu. Symp. Proc. 2006, 1167–1168 (2006).
- Kunhimangalam, R., Ovallath, S. & Joseph, P. K. A clinical decision support system with an integrated EMR for diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. J. Med. Syst. 38, 38 (2014).
- Davis, S., Roudsari, A., Raworth, R., Courtney, K. L. & Mackay, L. Shared decisionmaking using personal health record technology: a scoping review at the crossroads. J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. 24, 857–866 (2017).
- Tang, P. C., Ash, J. S., Bates, D. W., Overhage, J. M. & Sands, D. Z. Personal health records: definitions, benefits, and strategies for overcoming barriers to adoption. J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. 13, 121–126 (2006).
- Kumar, R. B., Goren, N. D., Stark, D. E., Wall, D. P. & Longhurst, C. A. Automated integration of continuous glucose monitor data in the electronic health record using consumer technology. J. Am. Med. Inf. Assoc. 23, 532–537 (2016).