Standardized order sets have become an integral part of computerized provider order entry initiatives, and prior studies have documented improved efficiency and enhanced safety when order sets are used. This commentary identifies several potential benefits and risks of order sets; for example, the potential benefit of using order sets as a vehicle for decision support must be balanced against the possibility that advancing knowledge may quickly render order sets obsolete. The authors provide examples of implementation issues and strategies for overcoming common problems before and after instituting order sets.