Utilizing health information technology to improve the recognition and management of life-threatening adrenal crisis in the pediatric emergency department: medical alert identification in the 21st century

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 513-518
Author(s):  
Kelsee L. Halpin ◽  
Emily L. Paprocki ◽  
Ryan J. McDonough

AbstractBackgroundMany barriers exist to the appropriate recognition and management of life-threatening adrenal crisis in the emergency department (ED). Clinical decision support (CDS) is a health information technology (IT) component that provides useful information to providers as healthcare is being delivered. We hypothesized that CDS incorporated into the electronic health record (EHR) could improve the recognition and management of adrenal crisis within the pediatric ED.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the impact of electronic CDS on the management of patients with known adrenal insufficiency (AI) presenting to two pediatric ED locations over a 19-month period with symptoms suggestive of adrenal crisis. Outcome variables assessed included the frequency of hydrocortisone (HC) administration, appropriateness of HC dosing, and timing to HC order placement and administration.ResultsA total of 145 encounters were reviewed. When the electronic CDS was in place at the time of the ED visit, patients were nearly 3 times as likely to receive HC (p = 0.002). Among those patients who received HC, the presence of the CDS increased the likelihood of an appropriate 50-mg/m2dose of HC being given from 20 to 53% (p = 0.02). However, the CDS did not significantly reduce the time from ED arrival to HC order placement (p = 0.36) or administration (p = 0.59).ConclusionsThe use of innovative health IT strategies, such as the electronic CDS, can improve the recognition and management of adrenal crisis among patients with AI presenting to the pediatric ED.

2019 ◽  
Vol 212 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali S. Raja ◽  
Sarvenaz Pourjabbar ◽  
Ivan K. Ip ◽  
Christopher W. Baugh ◽  
Aaron D. Sodickson ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 13-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Abraham ◽  
L. L. Novak ◽  
T. L. Reynolds ◽  
A. Gettinger ◽  
K. Zheng

SummaryObjective: To summarize recent research on unintended consequences associated with implementation and use of health information technology (health IT). Included in the review are original empirical investigations published in English between 2014 and 2015 that reported unintended effects introduced by adoption of digital interventions. Our analysis focuses on the trends of this steam of research, areas in which unintended consequences have continued to be reported, and common themes that emerge from the findings of these studies.Method: Most of the papers reviewed were retrieved by searching three literature databases: MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL. Two rounds of searches were performed: the first round used more restrictive search terms specific to unintended consequences; the second round lifted the restrictions to include more generic health IT evaluation studies. Each paper was independently screened by at least two authors; differences were resolved through consensus development.Results: The literature search identified 1,538 papers that were potentially relevant; 34 were deemed meeting our inclusion criteria after screening. Studies described in these 34 papers took place in a wide variety of care areas from emergency departments to ophthalmology clinics. Some papers reflected several previously unreported unintended consequences, such as staff attrition and patients’ withholding of information due to privacy and security concerns. A majority of these studies (71%) were quantitative investigations based on analysis of objectively recorded data. Several of them employed longitudinal or time series designs to distinguish between unintended consequences that had only transient impact, versus those that had persisting impact. Most of these unintended consequences resulted in adverse outcomes, even though instances of beneficial impact were also noted. While care areas covered were heterogeneous, over half of the studies were conducted at academic medical centers or teaching hospitals. Conclusion: Recent studies published in the past two years represent significant advancement of unintended consequences research by seeking to include more types of health IT applications and to quantify the impact using objectively recorded data and longitudinal or time series designs. However, more mixed-methods studies are needed to develop deeper insights into the observed unintended adverse outcomes, including their root causes and remedies. We also encourage future research to go beyond the paradigm of simply describing unintended consequences, and to develop and test solutions that can prevent or minimize their impact.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 642-651
Author(s):  
Laura Schubel ◽  
Danielle L Mosby ◽  
Joseph Blumenthal ◽  
Muge Capan ◽  
Ryan Arnold ◽  
...  

In caring for patients with sepsis, the current structure of electronic health record systems allows clinical providers access to raw patient data without imputation of its significance. There are a wide range of sepsis alerts in clinical care that act as clinical decision support tools to assist in early recognition of sepsis; however, there are serious shortcomings in existing health information technology for alerting providers in a meaningful way. Little work has been done to evaluate and assess existing alerts using implementation and process outcomes associated with health information technology displays, specifically evaluating clinician preference and performance. We developed graphical model displays of two popular sepsis scoring systems, quick Sepsis Related Organ Failure Assessment and Predisposition, Infection, Response, Organ Failure, using human factors principles grounded in user-centered and interaction design. Models will be evaluated in a larger research effort to optimize alert design to improve the collective awareness of high-risk populations and develop a relevant point-of-care clinical decision support system for sepsis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supp2) ◽  
pp. 377-384
Author(s):  
Tiffany Zellner Lawrence ◽  
Megan D. Douglas ◽  
Latrice Rollins ◽  
Robina Josiah Willock ◽  
Dexter L. Cooper ◽  
...  

Rulemaking is one of the most important ways the federal government makes public policy. It frequently has significant impact on individuals, communities, and organizations. Yet, few of those directly affected are familiar with the rulemaking process, and even fewer understand how it works. This article describes a case study of the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center for Health Disparities Research Health Information Technology (TCC HIT) Policy Project’s approach to health-policy engagement using: 1) social media; and 2) a webinar to educate stakeholders on the rulemaking process and increase their level of meaningful engagement with the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) proposed rule public comment submission. The webinar “Paying for Quality: What Is the Impact on Health Equity” was promoted through Twitter and held in June 2016. In total, we posted 19 tweets using two distinct hashtags (#MACRA4Equity, #MACRA2Equity) to raise awareness of the upcoming MACRA proposed rule and its possible effects on health equity. Overall, 252 individuals registered for the webinar, and more than half participated (n=133). Most (67%) registrants reported that health policy was not the primary focus of their current position. Based on information provided in the webinar, 95% agreed that their understanding of the topic improved. By the end of the webinar, 44% of participants indicated that they planned to submit public comments for MACRA, a 12% increase compared with those who planned to submit at the time of registration. The TCC health-policy engagement strategy demonstrates the feasibility of engaging a diverse audience around health policy issues, particularly those who are not typically engaged in policy work. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(Suppl 2): 377-384. doi:10.18865/ed.29.S2.377


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 897-910
Author(s):  
Guy Martin ◽  
Sonal Arora ◽  
Nisha Shah ◽  
Dominic King ◽  
Ara Darzi

Health information technology can transform and enhance the quality and safety of care, but it may also introduce new risks. This study analysed 130 healthcare regulator inspection reports and organisational digital maturity scores in order to characterise the impact of health information technology on quality and safety from a regulatory perspective. Although digital maturity and the positive use of health information technology are significantly associated with overall organisational quality, the negative effects of health information technology are frequently and more commonly identified by regulators. The poor usability of technology, lack of easy access to systems and data and the incorrect use of health information technology are the most commonly identified areas adversely affecting quality and safety. There is a need to understand the full risks and benefits of health information technology from the perspective of all stakeholders, including patients, end-users, providers and regulators in order to best inform future practice and regulation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1016-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha K Brenner ◽  
Rainu Kaushal ◽  
Zachary Grinspan ◽  
Christine Joyce ◽  
Inho Kim ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To systematically review studies assessing the effects of health information technology (health IT) on patient safety outcomes. Materials and Methods The authors employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement methods. MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing Allied Health (CINAHL), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases, from 2001 to June 2012, were searched. Descriptive and comparative studies were included that involved use of health IT in a clinical setting and measured effects on patient safety outcomes. Results Data on setting, subjects, information technology implemented, and type of patient safety outcomes were all abstracted. The quality of the studies was evaluated by 2 independent reviewers (scored from 0 to 10). A total of 69 studies met inclusion criteria. Quality scores ranged from 1 to 9. There were 25 (36%) studies that found benefit of health IT on direct patient safety outcomes for the primary outcome measured, 43 (62%) studies that either had non-significant or mixed findings, and 1 (1%) study for which health IT had a detrimental effect. Neither the quality of the studies nor the rate of randomized control trials performed changed over time. Most studies that demonstrated a positive benefit of health IT on direct patient safety outcomes were inpatient, single-center, and either cohort or observational trials studying clinical decision support or computerized provider order entry. Discussion and Conclusion Many areas of health IT application remain understudied and the majority of studies have non-significant or mixed findings. Our study suggests that larger, higher quality studies need to be conducted, particularly in the long-term care and ambulatory care settings.


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