To be effective, patient-centered clinical decision support (PC CDS) interventions must fit smoothly into clinical workflows and patients' daily activities (i.e., “lifeflows”). For example, CDS that does not fit comfortably into clinical workflows may contribute to low user acceptance and uptake of the decision support (e.g., evidence-based recommendation), leading to unintended consequences and suboptimal decisions and care.

To be used in conjunction with the Measurement and Outcomes Workgroup: Patient-Centered Clinical Decision Support Planning and Reporting Tool User Guide, this tool has four separate sections—1) planning and needs assessment, 2) design and development, 3) implementation and adoption, and 4) evaluation, maintenance, and sustainability— that are further organized by areas and tasks.

Understanding the economic and clinical impact of PC CDS is an aspect of the implementation planning and needs assessment process to assess PC CDS value and can inform investment decisions. However, heterogeneity in the economic and clinical impacts assessed in evaluations of CDS can limit generalizability and the use of study findings to assess PC CDS value and inform investment decisions.

Recipients of patient-centered clinical decision support (PC CDS) alerts and recommendations—including patients, clinicians, or caregivers—may choose not to follow the recommendations or guidance for various reasons.