Which steps are included when testing a new order set before go-live?

Which steps are included when testing a new order set before go-live?

• A. Document the plan without any testing.
• B. Validate that all included orders are correct, test in a patient chart, simulate real workflows, and obtain sign-off.
• C. Only perform automated unit tests.
• D. Ignore user feedback and bypass sign-off.

Answer: (B)

Before go-live, testing a new order set focuses on validating its content and how it performs in the real clinical workflow. You verify that every included order is correct and complete, reflecting current guidelines and safety considerations. Then you test the order set within a patient chart to see how it appears to clinicians, how prompts and defaults function, and how it interacts with other orders, medications, and results. You also simulate real workflows by walking through typical patient scenarios to uncover how the set supports or complicates care, including edge cases and potential errors. Finally, you obtain sign-off from the relevant clinical and governance stakeholders to confirm approval and readiness for production. Skipping testing, relying only on automated unit tests, or bypassing sign-off and ignoring user feedback misses essential real-world validation and safety checks.

Before go-live, testing a new order set focuses on validating its content and how it performs in the real clinical workflow. You verify that every included order is correct and complete, reflecting current guidelines and safety considerations. Then you test the order set within a patient chart to see how it appears to clinicians, how prompts and defaults function, and how it interacts with other orders, medications, and results. You also simulate real workflows by walking through typical patient scenarios to uncover how the set supports or complicates care, including edge cases and potential errors. Finally, you obtain sign-off from the relevant clinical and governance stakeholders to confirm approval and readiness for production. Skipping testing, relying only on automated unit tests, or bypassing sign-off and ignoring user feedback misses essential real-world validation and safety checks.