scholarly journals Documenting Pharmacogenomic Test Results in Electronic Health Records: Practical Considerations for Primary Care Teams

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1296
Author(s):  
Roseann S. Gammal ◽  
Lucas A. Berenbrok ◽  
Philip E. Empey ◽  
Mylynda B. Massart

With increasing patient interest in and access to pharmacogenomic testing, clinicians practicing in primary care are more likely than ever to encounter a patient seeking or presenting with pharmacogenomic test results. Gene-based prescribing recommendations are available to healthcare providers through Food and Drug Administration-approved drug labeling and Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium guidelines. Given the lifelong utility of pharmacogenomic test results to optimize pharmacotherapy for commonly prescribed medications, appropriate documentation of these results in a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) is essential. The current “gold standard” for pharmacogenomics implementation includes entering pharmacogenomic test results into EHRs as discrete results with associated clinical decision support (CDS) alerts that will fire at the point of prescribing, similar to drug allergy alerts. However, such infrastructure is limited to the few institutions that have invested in the resources and personnel to develop and maintain it. For the majority of clinicians who do not practice at an institution with a dedicated clinical pharmacogenomics team and integrated pharmacogenomics CDS in the EHR, this report provides practical tips for documenting pharmacogenomic test results in the problem list and allergy field to maximize the visibility and utility of results over time, especially when such results could prevent the occurrence of serious adverse drug reactions or predict therapeutic failure.

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 426-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann S. O’Malley ◽  
Kevin Draper ◽  
Rebecca Gourevitch ◽  
Dori A. Cross ◽  
Sarah Hudson Scholle

Abstract Objective Consensus that enhanced teamwork is necessary for efficient and effective primary care delivery is growing. We sought to identify how electronic health records (EHRs) facilitate and pose challenges to primary care teams as well as how practices are overcoming these challenges. Methods Practices in this qualitative study were selected from those recognized as patient-centered medical homes via the National Committee for Quality Assurance 2011 tool, which included a section on practice teamwork. We interviewed 63 respondents, ranging from physicians to front-desk staff, from 27 primary care practices ranging in size, type, geography, and population size. Results EHRs were found to facilitate communication and task delegation in primary care teams through instant messaging, task management software, and the ability to create evidence-based templates for symptom-specific data collection from patients by medical assistants and nurses (which can offload work from physicians). Areas where respondents felt that electronic medical record EHR functionalities were weakest and posed challenges to teamwork included the lack of integrated care manager software and care plans in EHRs, poor practice registry functionality and interoperability, and inadequate ease of tracking patient data in the EHR over time. Discussion Practices developed solutions for some of the challenges they faced when attempting to use EHRs to support teamwork but wanted more permanent vendor and policy solutions for other challenges. Conclusions EHR vendors in the United States need to work alongside practicing primary care teams to create more clinically useful EHRs that support dynamic care plans, integrated care management software, more functional and interoperable practice registries, and greater ease of data tracking over time.


Author(s):  
April Savoy ◽  
Himalaya Patel ◽  
Daniel R. Murphy ◽  
Ashley N. D. Meyer ◽  
Jennifer Herout ◽  
...  

Objective Situation awareness (SA) refers to people’s perception and understanding of their dynamic environment. In primary care, reduced SA among physicians increases errors in clinical decision-making and, correspondingly, patients’ risk of experiencing adverse outcomes. Our objective was to understand the extent to which electronic health records (EHRs) support primary care physicians (PCPs)’ SA during clinical decision-making. Method We conducted a metanarrative review of papers in selected academic databases, including CINAHL and MEDLINE. Eligible studies included original peer-reviewed research published between January 2012 and August 2020 on PCP–EHR interactions. We iteratively queried, screened, and summarized literature focused on EHRs supporting PCPs’ clinical decision-making and care management for adults. Then, we mapped findings to an established SA framework to classify external factors (individual, task, and system) affecting PCPs’ levels of SA (1–Perception, 2–Comprehension, and 3–Projection) and identified SA barriers. Results From 1504 articles identified, we included and synthesized 19 studies. Study designs were largely noninterventional. Studies described EHR workflow misalignments, usability issues, and communication challenges. EHR information, including lab results and care plans, was characterized as incomplete, untimely, or irrelevant. Unmet information needs made it difficult for PCPs to obtain even basic SA, Level 1 SA. Prevalent barriers to PCPs developing SA with EHRs were errant mental models, attentional tunneling, and data overload. Conclusion Based on our review, EHRs do not support the development of higher levels of SA among PCPs. Review findings suggest SA-oriented design processes for health information technology could improve PCPs’ SA, satisfaction, and decision-making.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. bjgp18X696749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maimoona Hashmi ◽  
Mark Wright ◽  
Kirin Sultana ◽  
Benjamin Barratt ◽  
Lia Chatzidiakou ◽  
...  

BackgroundChronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COPD) is marked by often severely debilitating exacerbations. Efficient patient-centric research approaches are needed to better inform health management primary-care.AimThe ‘COPE study’ aims to develop a method of predicting COPD exacerbations utilising personal air quality sensors, environmental exposure modelling and electronic health records through the recruitment of patients from consenting GPs contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).MethodThe study made use of Electronic Healthcare Records (EHR) from CPRD, an anonymised GP records database to screen and locate patients within GP practices in Central London. Personal air monitors were used to capture data on individual activities and environmental exposures. Output from the monitors were then linked with the EHR data to obtain information on COPD management, severity, comorbidities and exacerbations. Symptom changes not equating to full exacerbations were captured on diary cards. Linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between subject peak flow, symptoms, exacerbation events and exposure data.ResultsPreliminary results on the first 80 patients who have completed the study indicate variable susceptibility to environmental stressors in COPD patients. Some individuals appear highly susceptible to environmental stress and others appear to have unrelated triggers.ConclusionRecruiting patients through EHR for a study is feasible and allows easy collection of data for long term follow up. Portable environmental sensors could now be used to develop personalised models to predict risk of COPD exacerbations in susceptible individuals. Identification of direct links between participant health and activities would allow improved health management thus cost savings.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamadur Shudayfat ◽  
Çağdaş Akyürek ◽  
Noha Al-Shdayfat ◽  
Hatem Alsaqqa

BACKGROUND Acceptance of Electronic Health Record systems is considered an essential factor for an effective implementation among the Healthcare providers. In an attempt to understand the healthcare providers’ perceptions on the Electronic Health Record systems implementation and evaluate the factors influencing healthcare providers’ acceptance of Electronic Health Records, the current research examines the effects of individual (user) context factors, and organizational context factors, using Technology Acceptance Model. OBJECTIVE The current research examines the effects of individual (user) context factors, and organizational context factors, using Technology Acceptance Model. METHODS A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was used, in which 319 healthcare providers from five public hospital participated in the present study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which was based on the Technology Acceptance Model. RESULTS Jordanian healthcare providers demonstrated positive perceptions of the usefulness and ease of use of Electronic Health Record systems, and subsequently, they accepted the technology. The results indicated that they had a significant effect on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of Electronic Health Record, which in turn was related to positive attitudes towards Electronic Health Record systems as well as the intention to use them. CONCLUSIONS User attributes, organizational competency, management support and training and education are essential variables in predicting healthcare provider’s acceptance toward Electronic Health records. These findings should be considered by healthcare organizations administration to introduce effective system to other healthcare organizations.


Author(s):  
Jasneet Parmar ◽  
Sharon Anderson ◽  
Marjan Abbasi ◽  
Saeed Ahmadinejad ◽  
Karenn Chan ◽  
...  

Background. Research, practice, and policy have focused on educating family caregivers to sustain care but failed to equip healthcare providers to effectively support family caregivers. Family physicians are well-positioned to care for family caregivers. Methods. We adopted an interpretive description design to explore family physicians and primary care team members’ perceptions of their current and recommended practices for supporting family caregivers. We conducted focus groups with family physicians and their primary care team members. Results. Ten physicians and 42 team members participated. We identified three major themes. “Family physicians and primary care teams can be a valuable source of support for family caregivers” highlighted these primary care team members’ broad recognition of the need to support family caregiver’s health. “What stands in the way” spoke to the barriers in current practices that precluded supporting family caregivers. Primary care teams recommended, “A structured approach may be a way forward.” Conclusion. A plethora of research and policy documents recommend proactive, consistent support for family caregivers, yet comprehensive caregiver support policy remains elusive. The continuity of care makes primary care an ideal setting to support family caregivers. Now policy-makers must develop consistent protocols to assess, and care for family caregivers in primary care.


Rheumatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dahai Yu ◽  
George Peat ◽  
Kelvin P Jordan ◽  
James Bailey ◽  
Daniel Prieto-Alhambra ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Better indicators from affordable, sustainable data sources are needed to monitor population burden of musculoskeletal conditions. We propose five indicators of musculoskeletal health and assessed if routinely available primary care electronic health records (EHR) can estimate population levels in musculoskeletal consulters. Methods We collected validated patient-reported measures of pain experience, function and health status through a local survey of adults (≥35 years) presenting to English general practices over 12 months for low back pain, shoulder pain, osteoarthritis and other regional musculoskeletal disorders. Using EHR data we derived and validated models for estimating population levels of five self-reported indicators: prevalence of high impact chronic pain, overall musculoskeletal health (based on Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire), quality of life (based on EuroQoL health utility measure), and prevalence of moderate-to-severe low back pain and moderate-to-severe shoulder pain. We applied models to a national EHR database (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) to obtain national estimates of each indicator for three successive years. Results The optimal models included recorded demographics, deprivation, consultation frequency, analgesic and antidepressant prescriptions, and multimorbidity. Applying models to national EHR, we estimated that 31.9% of adults (≥35 years) presenting with non-inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders in England in 2016/17 experienced high impact chronic pain. Estimated population health levels were worse in women, older aged and those in the most deprived neighbourhoods, and changed little over 3 years. Conclusion National and subnational estimates for a range of subjective indicators of non-inflammatory musculoskeletal health conditions can be obtained using information from routine electronic health records.


2006 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Shabo

Summary Objectives: This paper pursues the challenge of sustaining lifetime electronic health records (EHRs) based on a comprehensive socio-economic-medico-legal model. The notion of a lifetime EHR extends the emerging concept of a longitudinal and cross-institutional EHR and is invaluable information for increasing patient safety and quality of care. Methods: The challenge is how to compile and sustain a coherent EHR across the lifetime of an individual. Several existing and hypothetical models are described, analyzed and compared in an attempt to suggest a preferred approach. Results: The vision is that lifetime EHRs should be sustained by new players in the healthcare arena, who will function as independent health record banks (IHRBs). Multiple competing IHRBs would be established and regulated following preemptive legislation. They should be neither owned by healthcare providers nor by health insurer/payers or government agencies. The new legislation should also stipulate that the records located in these banks be considered the medico-legal copies of an individual’s records, and that healthcare providers no longer serve as the legal record keepers. Conclusions: The proposed model is not centered on any of the current players in the field; instead, it is focussed on the objective service of sustaining individual EHRs, much like financial banks maintain and manage financial assets. This revolutionary structure provides two main benefits: 1) Healthcare organizations will be able to cut the costs of long-term record keeping, and 2) healthcare providers will be able to provide better care based on the availability of a lifelong EHR of their new patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence W. C. Chan ◽  
S. C. Cesar Wong ◽  
Choo Chiap Chiau ◽  
Tak-Ming Chan ◽  
Liang Tao ◽  
...  

Electronic Health Record (EHR) system enables clinical decision support. In this study, a set of 112 abdominal computed tomography imaging examination reports, consisting of 59 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases (so-called HCC group for simplicity) and 53 cases with no abnormality detected (NAD group), were collected from four hospitals in Hong Kong. We extracted terms related to liver cancer from the reports and mapped them to ontological features using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) Clinical Terms (CT). The primary predictor panel was formed by these ontological features. Association levels between every two features in the HCC and NAD groups were quantified using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The HCC group reveals a distinct association pattern that signifies liver cancer and provides clinical decision support for suspected cases, motivating the inclusion of new features to form the augmented predictor panel. Logistic regression analysis with stepwise forward procedure was applied to the primary and augmented predictor sets, respectively. The obtained model with the new features attained 84.7% sensitivity and 88.4% overall accuracy in distinguishing HCC from NAD cases, which were significantly improved when compared with that without the new features.


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