The Impact of Implementation of a Clinically Integrated Problem-Based Neonatal Electronic Health Record on Documentation Metrics, Provider Satisfaction, and Hospital Reimbursement: A Quality Improvement Project

Problem-oriented documentation: design and widespread adoption of a novel toolkit in a commercial electronic health record

Background

Problem-oriented documentation is an accepted method of note construction which facilitates clinical thought processes. However, problem-oriented documentation is challenging to put into practice using commercially available electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Objective

Our goal was to create, iterate, and distribute a problem-oriented documentation toolkit within a commercial EHR that maximally supported clinicians' thinking, was intuitive to use, and produced clear documentation.

Materials and Methods

We used an iterative design process that stressed visual simplicity, data integration, a predictable interface, data reuse, and clinician efficiency. Creation of the problem-oriented documentation toolkit required the use of EHR-provided tools and custom programming.

Results

We developed a problem-oriented documentation interface with a 3-column view showing (1) a list of visit diagnoses, (2) the current overview and assessment and plan for a selected diagnosis, and (3) a list of medications, labs, data, and orders relevant to that diagnosis. We also created a series of macros to bring information collected through the interface into clinicians' notes. This toolkit was put into a live environment in February 2019. Over the first 9 months, the custom problem-oriented documentation toolkit was used in a total of 8385 discrete visits by 28 clinicians in 13 ambulatory departments. After 9 months, the go-live education and EHR optimization teams in our health system began promoting the toolkit to new and existing users of our EHR resulting in a significantly increased uptake by outpatient clinicians. In April 2022 alone, the toolkit was used in more than 92 000 ambulatory visits by 894 users in 271 departments across our health system.

Conclusions

As a health-system client of a commercial EHR, we developed and deployed a revised problem-oriented documentation toolkit that is used by clinicians more than 92 000 times a month. Key success elements include an emphasis on usability and an effective training effort.

MedCDI: A technology-based documentation and quality improvement initiative in neurosurgery

Background:

Clinical documentation of patient care alters coding accuracy of Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups (MS-DRGs), expected mortality, and expected length of stay (LOS) which impact quality metrics. We aimed to determine if neurosurgical quality metrics could be improved by facilitating accurate documentation and subsequently developed a mobile application and educational video to target areas of opportunity.

Methods:

Vizient software was used to analyze MS-DRGs and expected LOS for sample of patients requiring surgery for spinal pathology, brain tumors, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) between January 2019 and August 2021. Chart reviews were conducted to discover variables missed by documenting provider and/or coder.

Results:

Review of 114 spinal surgeries, 20 brain tumors, and 53 SAH patients revealed at least one additional variable impacting LOS in 43% of spine, 75% of brain tumor, and 92% of SAH patients, with an average of 1 (1.25), 2 (1.75), and 3 (2.89) new variables, respectively. Recalculated expected LOS increased by an average of 0.86 days for spine, 3.08 for brain tumor, and 6.46 for SAH cases.

Conclusion:

Efforts to accurately document patient care can improve quality metrics such as expected LOS, mortality, and cost estimates. We determined several missing variables which impact quality metrics, showing opportunity exists in neurosurgical documentation improvement. Subsequently, we developed an educational video and mobile-supported application to specifically target these variables. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first initiative to utilize the proven powers of mobile phones in health care toward the novel application of specifically improving neurosurgical quality metrics.

Neonatal Care Provider Tasks in the NICU and Delivery Room

BACKGROUND

Decreased availability of pediatric residents in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) has created demand for other neonatal medical care providers. No recent publications exist about how to approach the organization of tasks involved in that care.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to present a structure and resources to guide the organization of tasks in the care of sick and premature infants in the NICU.

METHODS

The methods included a literature review to develop evidenced-based practice resources. The literature was reviewed regarding the relevant history and resources to support task organization during patient rounds and care in the NICU, and for delivery attendance by skilled providers. The goal, to establish a reference to support education about these approaches, is based upon evidence, which appears to be rooted in tradition.

FINDINGS

Evidence-based resources include documentation templates, problem list in order of systems, and provider tasks for NICU and delivery attendance.

IMPLICATION FOR RESEARCH

Future studies can measure mentor or learner perceptions of the value of these resources, critical thinking improvement, safety, and clinical outcomes.

IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE

These resources may provide structure for learners and providers who have studied the physiology, pathophysiology, and problem management concepts, but need to learn how to execute their responsibilities in these busy environments.

Implementation of a Provider’s Asthma-specific Note to Optimize Billing in the Pediatric Emergency Department

There is broad variability in provider documentation for asthma encounters within the pediatric emergency department. Inadequate provider documentation leads to discrepancies between the ideal current procedural terminology (CPT) code and the assigned CPT code based on the care provided. Multiple studies demonstrate improvement in medical provider documentation after implementing standardized documentation templates and educational programs. The primary aim of this project was to improve the concordance between the ideal CPT code and assigned CPT code from a baseline of 71% to 85% in 12 months.

Situation of labour room documentation at secondary level public health facilities of Cuttack district, Odisha, India - A SWOT analysis

Background:

Poor documentation practices in labour rooms have been a challenge especially in resource limited countries. This hinders the efforts towards improving quality of maternal healthcare services. Little effort has been made on this regard in many countries including India. SWOT analysis on labour room documentation would be the first step in understanding the situation, barriers and to formulate strategies for improvement.

Materials and Methods:

Facility based cross-sectional study was carried out in five secondary health facilities of Cuttack district, Odisha, India. A qualitative method using in-depth interviews among 26 healthcare providers was adopted for data collection and inductive content analysis approach for analysis. Strategies like pioneering, positive, conservative and resistive were formulated under each of the three major components identified.

Results:

Three major components emerged were i) Adherence and completeness of labour room records and reports, ii) Status of the monitoring and supervision and iii) Utilization of labour room data. Improving knowledge and skill through training and supportive supervision, adopting computer-based application for data management, better coordination among supervisors and labour room staff, infrastructural strengthening for documentation and its security, making documentation a priority, more accountability would improve the documentation. Ensuring data analysis and interpretation, discussion in review meetings and regular monitoring and supervision will improve performance.

Conclusion:

Ensuring documentation of labour room records, regular quality monitoring and supervision, and analysis and interpretation of data are critical to improve labour room performance. Making it a priority and adopting the strategies will achieve the same, thereby better labour outcome.