Implementation strategy
Channel	Electronic-based
Sharing	Local application, networked, or Web applications
Type of device	Local personal computer or handheld device
Computational architecture	CDSS built into local EHR, knowledge available from central repository, entire system housed outside local site, clouding system
Information
Nature	Knowledge-based
Provider	Contents provided by national/international publisher, professional society, health care organization, or governmental agency
EBM methodology	General references, specific guidelines for a given clinical condition, suggestions considering a patient’s unique clinical data, list of possible diagnoses, drug interaction alerts, or preventive care reminders
Format: delivery form	Messages reminders, prompts, alerts, algorithms, recommendations, rules, order sets, warnings, data reports, and dashboards
Target
Targeted setting	Primary, secondary, or tertiary
Target expertise	Preventive care (e.g., immunization, screening, or disease management guidelines for secondary prevention)
	Diagnosis (e.g., suggestions for possible diagnoses that match a patient’s signs and symptoms)
	Planning or implementing treatment (e.g., guidelines for specific diagnoses, drug dosage recommendations, or warnings for drug interactions).
	Follow-up management (e.g., corollary orders, reminders for ADE monitoring)
	Hospital, provider efficiency (e.g., care plans to minimize length of stay)
	Cost reductions and improved patient convenience (e.g., duplicate testing alerts or drug formulary guidelines)
Overall goals	Improved overall efficiency, early disease identification, accurate diagnosis, adherence of treatment to protocols, or prevention of ADEs
Time
Timing	Immediately at the point of care, before the patient encounter, after the patient encounter, or at any time
Type of presentation	“Automatic” (key issues: timing, autonomy and user control over response)
	“On demand” (key issues: speed, ease of access, autonomy and user control over response)
Person: health professional	Physicians, nurses, or allied health professionals

Note. ADE = adverse drug event; EBM = evidence-based medicine; EHR = electronic health record.