scholarly journals Development of a Cancer Care Summary Through the Electronic Health Record

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. e231-e240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie L. Carr ◽  
Pearlanne Zelarney ◽  
Sarah Meadows ◽  
Jeffrey A. Kern ◽  
M. Bronwyn Long ◽  
...  

Introduction: Our objective was to improve communication concerning lung cancer patients by developing and distributing a Cancer Care Summary that would provide clinically useful information about the patient’s diagnosis and care to providers in diverse settings. Methods: We designed structured, electronic forms for the electronic health record (EHR), detailing tumor staging, classification, and treatment. To ensure completeness and accuracy of the information, we implemented a data quality cycle, composed of reports that are reviewed by oncology clinicians. The data from the EHR forms are extracted into a structured query language database system on a daily basis, from which the Summaries are derived. We conducted focus groups regarding the utility, format, and content of the Summary. Cancer Care Summaries are automatically generated 4 months after a patient’s date of diagnosis, then every 6 months for those receiving treatment, and on an as-needed basis for urgent care or hospital admission. Results: The product of our improvement project is the Cancer Care Summary. To date, 102 individual patient Summaries have been generated. These documents are automatically entered into the National Jewish Health (NJH) EHR, attached to correspondence to primary care providers, available to patients as electronic documents on the NJH patient portal, and faxed to emergency departments and admitting physicians on patient evaluation. Conclusion: We developed a sustainable tool to improve cancer care communication. The Cancer Care Summary integrates information from the EHR in a timely manner and distributes the information through multiple avenues.

JAMIA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Kirley ◽  
Tamkeen Khan ◽  
Gina Aquino ◽  
Ameldia Brown ◽  
Scott Meier ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine if certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) can be used to identify and refer patients with prediabetes to lifestyle change programs (LCPs) recognized by the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). This pilot utilized a prediabetes registry, patient portal, and clinical decision support to increase referrals. Data from 36 primary care providers showed 4930 patients were eligible for DPP LCP, 293 referrals were generated, compared to 20 referrals in the baseline period, and 116 patients enrolled. Referral to enrollment conversion rates were 41% in the study period and 69% in the post-study 1-year period. CEHRT functionalities can support systematic identification and management of prediabetes. The referral rate increased 7-fold compared to the baseline period, with high referral to enrollment conversion rates. CEHRT coupled with active provider engagement can serve as a tool to identify prediabetes patients and facilitate LCP referrals and enrollment.


ACI Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. e35-e43
Author(s):  
Shira H. Fischer ◽  
Charles Safran ◽  
Krzysztof Z. Gajos ◽  
Adam Wright

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to study the impact of graphical representation of health record data on physician decision-making to inform the design of health information technology. Materials and Methods We conducted a within participants crossover design study using a simulated electronic health record (EHR) in which we presented cases with and without visualized data designed to highlight important clinical trends or relationships, followed by assessment of the impact on decision-making about next steps for patients with chronic diseases. We then asked whether trends were observed and about usability and satisfaction using validated usability questions and asked open-ended questions as well. Time to answer questions was also collected. Results Twenty-one primary care providers participated in the study, including five for testing only and sixteen for the full study. Questions about clinical assessment or next actions were answered correctly 55% of the time. Regarding objective trends in the data, participants described noticing the trends 85% of the time. Differences in noticing trends or difficulty level of questions were not statistically significant. Satisfaction with the tool was high and participants agreed strongly that it helped them make better decisions without adding to the time it took. Discussion The simulation allowed us to test the impact of a visualization on clinician practice in a realistic setting. Designers of EHRs should consider the ways information presentation can affect decision-making. Conclusion Testing visualization tools can be done in a clinically realistic context. Providers desire visualizations and believe that they help them make better and faster decisions.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy D O’Connor ◽  
Anuj K Dalal ◽  
V Anik Sahni ◽  
Ronilda Lacson ◽  
Ramin Khorasani

Abstract Objective To assess whether integrating critical result management software—Alert Notification of Critical Results (ANCR)—with an electronic health record (EHR)-based results management application impacts closed-loop communication and follow-up of nonurgent, clinically significant radiology results by primary care providers (PCPs). Materials and Methods This institutional review board-approved study was conducted at a large academic medical center. Postintervention, PCPs could acknowledge nonurgent, clinically significant ANCR-generated alerts (“alerts”) within ANCR or the EHR. Primary outcome was the proportion of alerts acknowledged via EHR over a 24-month postintervention. Chart abstractions for a random sample of alerts 12 months preintervention and 24 months postintervention were reviewed, and the follow-up rate of actionable alerts (eg, performing follow-up imaging, administering antibiotics) was estimated. Pre- and postintervention rates were compared using the Fisher exact test. Postintervention follow-up rate was compared for EHR-acknowledged alerts vs ANCR. Results Five thousand nine hundred and thirty-one alerts were acknowledged by 171 PCPs, with 100% acknowledgement (consistent with expected ANCR functionality). PCPs acknowledged 16% (688 of 4428) of postintervention alerts in the EHR, with the remaining in ANCR. Follow-up was documented for 85 of 90 (94%; 95% CI, 88%-98%) preintervention and 79 of 84 (94%; 95% CI, 87%-97%) postintervention alerts ( P > .99). Postintervention, 11 of 14 (79%; 95% CI, 52%-92%) alerts were acknowledged via EHR and 68 of 70 (97%; 95% CI, 90%-99%) in ANCR had follow-up ( P = .03). Conclusions Integrating ANCR and EHR provides an additional workflow for acknowledging nonurgent, clinically significant results without significant change in rates of closed-loop communication or follow-up of alerts.


2019 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Barry ◽  
Steven Kaufman ◽  
David Feinstein ◽  
Nami Kim ◽  
Snehal Gandhi ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Thyroid and rheumatologic autoimmune testing are areas where evidence-based guidance from specialty organizations and Choosing Wisely support utilizing screening tests for autoimmune and thyroid disorders prior to more specialized testing. Adjustment of the orderable options in the electronic health record (EHR) can influence ordering patterns without requiring manual review or additional effort by the clinician. Methods The menu was adjusted to reflect recommendations from Choosing Wisely to favor screening tests that automatically reflex to specialized testing on primary care providers’ preference lists. Effectiveness was evaluated by reviewing total orders for individual tests. Results Shifts in ordering from individual screening tests (antinuclear antibody and thyrotropin) to ones that reflexed to specialized testing were observed in parallel with significant reductions in the corresponding specialized testing. Conclusions Optimization of the EHR laboratory ordering menu can be used to shift ordering patterns toward Choosing Wisely recommendations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 1210-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Cutrona ◽  
Hassan Fouayzi ◽  
Laura Burns ◽  
Rajani S. Sadasivam ◽  
Kathleen M. Mazor ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e000430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Rhudy ◽  
Jane Broxterman ◽  
Sara Stewart ◽  
Victoria Weaver ◽  
Cheryl Gibson ◽  
...  

Electronic health record patient portal usage has been associated with improvement in chronic disease parameters, patient functional status and patient satisfaction. Our institution’s patient portal is a secure, online health management tool that connects patients to portions of their electronic health record.Our quality improvement project aimed to increase patient portal enrolment significantly in our Internal Medicine resident patient panels.This study was conducted in a large, multisite health system in Kansas City, Kansas that serves a diverse patient population. Our clinic includes 65 resident patient panels. We followed a subset of 16 resident patient panels in this quality improvement project. A baseline audit showed that 35% of the 1628 patients in these panels were enrolled in the patient portal system. A standardised, nurse-initiated portal sign-up process following patient rooming was implemented. Initial results indicated a 9.6% increase in patient portal sign-up at the end of the first 4-week cycle. We then implemented educational sessions for our clinic nurses as well as attending physicians, and achieved a 15.1% increase from baseline to the end of the second 4-week cycle, resulting in 86 patient portal activations (p<0.01).Resident physicians worked with clinic nurse partners in two formats for this project. Nurses assigned to patient rooming for residents during the clinic sessions being studied (rooming nurses) initiated the portal sign-up process. Nurses assigned to partner with the resident for longitudinal patient care management, anchor nurses, worked with residents on items such as phone messages or portal messages. Semi-structured interviews of the four anchor nurses aligned with the 16 residents were conducted at the end of the study and revealed that nursing staff perceived increased patient portal activity to be associated with a decrease in nursing workload and an increase in patient engagement.


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