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Brickson C, Keniston A, Knees M, Burden M. Characterizing electronic messaging use among hospitalists and its association with patient volumes. J Hosp Med 2024. [PMID: 39033420 DOI: 10.1002/jhm.13462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secure electronic messaging is increasingly being utilized for communications in healthcare settings. While it likely increases efficiency, it has also been associated with interruptions, high message volumes, and risk of errors due to multitasking. OBJECTIVES We aimed to characterize patterns of secure messaging among hospitalists to understand the volume of messages, message patterns, and impact on hospitalist workload. METHODS This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of Epic Secure Chat secure electronic messages received and sent by hospitalists from April 1 to April 30, 2023 at a large academic medical center. Number of conversations per day, number of chats sent and accessed per hour, and average minutes between when a chat was sent and accessed (lag time) were analyzed using a Pearson correlation coefficient test. Measures were plotted against patient volume and time of day. RESULTS Hospitalists sent or received an average of 130 messages per day with an average of 13 messages sent or received per hour. The median lag time was 39 s. There was a statistically significant correlation between hospital medicine morning census and number of conversations per day, number of chats sent per hour, and number of chats accessed per hour, but census did not impact lag time. CONCLUSION Secure messaging volumes may be higher than previously reported, which may affect hospitalist workload and workflow and have unintended effects on interruptions, multitasking, and medical errors. Additional work should be done to better understand local messaging patterns and opportunities to optimize volume of work and distractions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Brickson
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Angela Keniston
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Michelle Knees
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Marisha Burden
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Malacon K, Touponse G, Yoseph E, Li G, Wei P(J, Kicielinski K, Massie L, Williamson T, Han S, Zygourakis C. Gender Differences in Electronic Health Record Usage Among Surgeons. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2421717. [PMID: 39042410 PMCID: PMC11267410 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Understanding gender differences in electronic health record (EHR) use among surgeons is crucial for addressing potential disparities in workload, compensation, and physician well-being. Objective To investigate gender differences in EHR usage patterns. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study examined data from an EHR system (Epic Signal) at a single academic hospital from January to December 2022. Participants included 224 attending surgeons with patient encounters in the outpatient setting. Statistical analysis was performed from May 2023 to April 2024. Exposures Surgeon's gender. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome variables were progress note length, documentation length, time spent in medical records, and time spent documenting patient encounters. Continuous variables were summarized with median and IQR and assessed via the Kruskal-Wallis test. Categorical variables were summarized using proportion and frequency and compared using the χ2 test. Multivariate linear regression was used with primary EHR usage variables as dependent variables and surgeon characteristics as independent variables. Results This study included 222 529 patient encounters by 224 attending surgeons, of whom 68 (30%) were female and 156 (70%) were male. The median (IQR) time in practice was 14.0 (7.8-24.3) years. Male surgeons had more median (IQR) appointments per month (78.3 [39.2-130.6] vs 57.8 [25.7-89.8]; P = .005) and completed more medical records per month compared with female surgeons (43.0 [21.8-103.9] vs 29.1 [15.9-48.1]; P = .006). While there was no difference in median (IQR) time spent in the EHR system per month (664.1 [301.0-1299.1] vs 635.0 [315.6-1192.0] minutes; P = .89), female surgeons spent more time logged into the system both outside of 7am to 7pm (36.4 [7.8-67.6] vs 14.1 [5.4-52.2] min/mo; P = .05) and outside of scheduled clinic hours (134.8 [58.9-310.1] vs 105.2 [40.8-214.3] min/mo; P = .05). Female surgeons spent more median (IQR) time per note (4.8 [2.6-7.1] vs 2.5 [0.9-4.2] minutes; P < .001) compared with male surgeons. Male surgeons had a higher number of median (IQR) days logged in per month (17.7 [13.8-21.3] vs 15.7 [10.7-19.7] days; P = .03). Female surgeons wrote longer median (IQR) inpatient progress notes (6025.1 [3692.1-7786.7] vs 4307.7 [2808.9-5868.4] characters/note; P = .001) and had increased outpatient document length (6321.1 [4079.9-7825.0] vs 4445.3 [2934.7-6176.7] characters/note; P < .001). Additionally, female surgeons wrote a higher fraction of the notes manually (17% vs 12%; P = .006). After using multivariable linear regression models, male gender was associated with reduced character length for both documentations (regression coefficient, -1106.9 [95% CI, -1981.5 to -232.3]; P = .01) and progress notes (regression coefficient, -1119.0 [95% CI, -1974.1 to -263.9]; P = .01). Male gender was positively associated with total hospital medical records completed (regression coefficient, 47.3 [95% CI, 28.3-66.3]; P < .001). There was no difference associated with gender for time spent in each note, time spent outside of 7 am to 7 pm, or time spent outside scheduled clinic hours. Conclusions and Relevance This cross-sectional study of EHR data found that female surgeons spent more time documenting patient encounters, wrote longer notes, and spent more time in the EHR system compared with male surgeons. These findings have important implications for understanding the differential burdens faced by female surgeons, including potential contributions to burnout and payment disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Malacon
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
| | - Gavin Touponse
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
| | - Ezra Yoseph
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
| | - Guan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
| | | | | | - Lara Massie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny Health Network, Monroeville, Pennsylvania
| | - Theresa Williamson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston
| | - Summer Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
- Quantitative Sciences Unit, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Corinna Zygourakis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California
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Mu H, Deng Y, Li Y, Xie Q, Na J, Mao C, Geng Y, Sun W, Yan L, Pan G. Cross-sectional study of the association between burnout and work overload and work-life imbalance among medical personnel in Liaoning, China: role of specialty. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e079304. [PMID: 38834323 PMCID: PMC11163827 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Burnout is common among medical personnel in China and may be related to excessive and persistent work-related stressors by different specialties. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of burnout, work overload and work-life imbalance according to different specialties and to explore the effect of specialty, work overload and work-life imbalance on burnout among medical personnel. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING This study was conducted in 1 tertiary general public hospital, 2 secondary general hospitals and 10 community health service stations in Liaoning, China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 3299 medical personnel participated in the study. METHODS We used the 15-item Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS) to measure burnout. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the association between medical specialty, work overload, work-life imbalance and burnout. RESULTS 3299 medical personnel were included in this study. The prevalence of burnout, severe burnout, work overload and work-life imbalance were 88.7%, 13.6%, 23.4% and 23.2%, respectively. Compared with medical personnel in internal medicine, working in obstetrics and gynaecology (OR=0.61, 95% CI 0.38, 0.99) and management (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.28, 0.72) was significantly associated with burnout, and working in ICU (Intensive Care Unit)(OR=2.48, 95% CI 1.07, 5.73), surgery (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.18, 2.35) and paediatrics (OR=0.24, 95% CI 0.07, 0.81) was significantly associated with severe burnout. Work overload and work-life imbalance were associated with higher ORs for burnout (OR=1.64, 95% CI 1.16, 2.32; OR=2.79, 95% CI 1.84, 4.24) and severe burnout (OR=4.33, 95% CI 3.43, 5.46; OR=3.35, 95% CI 2.64, 4.24). CONCLUSIONS Burnout, work overload and work-life imbalance were prevalent among Chinese medical personnel but varied considerably by clinical specialty. Burnout may be reduced by decreasing work overload and promoting work-life balance across different specialties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Mu
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
- Institute of Chronic Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, China
| | - Yan Deng
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yanxia Li
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
- Institute of Chronic Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiong Xie
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Na
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
- Institute of Chronic Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, China
| | - Chunying Mao
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yihang Geng
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lingjun Yan
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guowei Pan
- Research Center for Universal Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Daniel R, Jones H, Gregory JW, Shetty A, Francis N, Paranjothy S, Townson J. Predicting type 1 diabetes in children using electronic health records in primary care in the UK: development and validation of a machine-learning algorithm. Lancet Digit Health 2024; 6:e386-e395. [PMID: 38789139 DOI: 10.1016/s2589-7500(24)00050-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children presenting to primary care with suspected type 1 diabetes should be referred immediately to secondary care to avoid life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. However, early recognition of children with type 1 diabetes is challenging. Children might not present with classic symptoms, or symptoms might be attributed to more common conditions. A quarter of children present with diabetic ketoacidosis, a proportion unchanged over 25 years. Our aim was to investigate whether a machine-learning algorithm could lead to earlier detection of type 1 diabetes in primary care. METHODS We developed the predictive algorithm using Welsh primary care electronic health records (EHRs) linked to the Brecon Dataset, a register of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Children were included from their first primary care record within the study period of Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2016, until either type 1 diabetes diagnosis, they turned 15 years of age, or study end. We developed an ensemble learner (SuperLearner) using 26 potential predictors. Validation of the algorithm was done in English EHRs from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (primary care) and Hospital Episode Statistics, focusing on the ability of the algorithm to identify children who went on to develop type 1 diabetes and the time by which diagnosis could be anticipated. FINDINGS The development dataset comprised 34 754 400 primary care contacts, relating to 952 402 children, and the validation dataset comprised 43 089 103 primary care contacts, relating to 1 493 328 children. Of these, 1829 (0·19%) children younger than 15 years in the development dataset, and 1516 (0·10%) in the validation dataset had a reliable date of type 1 diabetes diagnosis. If set to give an alert in 10% of contacts, an estimated 71·6% (95% CI 68·8-74·4) of the children with type 1 diabetes would receive an alert by the algorithm in the 90 days before diagnosis, with diagnosis anticipated, on average, by an estimated 9·34 days (95% CI 7·77-10·9). INTERPRETATION If implemented into primary care settings, this predictive algorithm could substantially reduce the proportion of patients with new-onset type 1 diabetes presenting in diabetic ketoacidosis. Acceptability of alert thresholds should be explored in primary care. FUNDING Diabetes UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhian Daniel
- Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Hywel Jones
- Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - John W Gregory
- Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Ambika Shetty
- The Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales, Department of Paediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK
| | - Nick Francis
- Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Julia Townson
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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Tremoulet PD, Lobo AF, Simmons CA, Baliga G, Brady M. Assessing the Usability and Feasibility of Digital Assistant Tools for Direct Support Professionals: Participatory Design and Pilot-Testing. JMIR Hum Factors 2024; 11:e51612. [PMID: 38662420 PMCID: PMC11082739 DOI: 10.2196/51612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The United States is experiencing a direct support professional (DSP) crisis, with demand far exceeding supply. Although generating documentation is a critical responsibility, it is one of the most wearisome aspects of DSPs' jobs. Technology that enables DSPs to log informal time-stamped notes throughout their shift could help reduce the burden of end-of-shift documentation and increase job satisfaction, which in turn could improve the quality of life of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) whom DSPs support. However, DSPs, with varied ages, levels of education, and comfort using technology, are not likely to adopt tools that detract from caregiving responsibilities or increase workload; therefore, technological tools for them must be relatively simple, extremely intuitive, and provide highly valued capabilities. OBJECTIVE This paper describes the development and pilot-testing of a digital assistant tool (DAT) that enables DSPs to create informal notes throughout their shifts and use these notes to facilitate end-of-shift documentation. The purpose of the pilot study was to assess the usability and feasibility of the DAT. METHODS The research team applied an established user-centered participatory design process to design, develop, and test the DAT prototypes between May 2020 and April 2023. Pilot-testing entailed having 14 DSPs who support adults with IDDs use the first full implementation of the DAT prototypes during 2 or 3 successive work shifts and fill out demographic and usability questionnaires. RESULTS Participants used the DAT prototypes to create notes and help generate end-of-shift reports. The System Usability Scale score of 81.79 indicates that they found the prototypes easy to use. Survey responses imply that using the DAT made it easier for participants to produce required documentation and suggest that they would adopt the DAT if this tool were available for daily use. CONCLUSIONS Simple technologies such as the DAT prototypes, which enable DSPs to use mobile devices to log time-stamped notes throughout their shift with minimal effort and use the notes to help write reports, have the potential to both reduce the burden associated with producing documentation and enhance the quality (level of detail and accuracy) of this documentation. This could help to increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover in DSPs, both of which would help improve the quality of life of the individuals with IDDs whom they support. The pilot test results indicate that DSPs found the DAT easy to use. Next steps include (1) producing more robust versions of the DAT with additional capabilities, such as storing data locally on mobile devices when Wi-Fi is not available; and (2) eliciting input from agency directors, families, and others who use data about adults with IDDs to help care for them to ensure that data produced by DSPs are relevant and useful.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea F Lobo
- Department of Computer Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | | | - Ganesh Baliga
- Department of Computer Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | - Matthew Brady
- Department of Computer Science, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
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Hom GL, Kuo BL, Ross JH, Chapman GC, Sharma N, Sastry R, Muste JC, Greenlee TE, Conti TF, Singh RP, Sharma S. Characterization of pentosan polysulfate patients for development of an alert and screening system for ophthalmic monitoring. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2024; 59:128-136. [PMID: 36878265 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pentosan polysulfate (PPS; ELMIRON, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Titusville, NJ) is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved oral medication for interstitial cystitis. Numerous reports have been published detailing retinal toxicity with the use of PPS. Studies characterizing this condition are primarily retrospective, and consequently, alert and screening systems need to be developed to actively screen for this disease. The goal of this study was to characterize ophthalmic monitoring trends of a PPS-using patient sample to construct an alert and screening system for monitoring this condition. METHODS A single-institution retrospective chart review was conducted between January 2005 and November 2020 to characterize PPS use. An electronic medical record (EMR) alert was constructed to trigger based on new PPS prescriptions and renewals offering ophthalmology referral. RESULTS A total of 1407 PPS users over 15 years was available for characterization, with 1220 (86.7%) being female, the average duration of exposure being 71.2 ± 62.6 months, and the average medication cumulative exposure being 669.7 ± 569.2 g. A total of 151 patients (10.7%) had a recorded visit with an ophthalmologist, with 71 patients (5.0%) having optical coherence tomography imaging. The EMR alert fired for 88 patients over 1 year, with 34 patients (38.6%) either already being screened by an ophthalmologist or having been referred for screening. CONCLUSIONS An EMR support tool can improve referral rates of PPS maculopathy screening with an ophthalmologist and may serve as an efficient method for longitudinal screening of this condition with the added benefit of informing pentosan polysulfate prescribers about this condition. Effective screening and detection may help determine which patients are at high risk for this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant L Hom
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Blanche L Kuo
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - James H Ross
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Graham C Chapman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Neha Sharma
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
| | - Resya Sastry
- Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Justin C Muste
- Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Tyler E Greenlee
- Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Thais F Conti
- Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Rishi P Singh
- Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Sumit Sharma
- Center for Ophthalmic Bioinformatics, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
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Fallon A, Haralambides K, Mazzillo J, Gleber C. Addressing Alert Fatigue by Replacing a Burdensome Interruptive Alert with Passive Clinical Decision Support. Appl Clin Inform 2024; 15:101-110. [PMID: 38086417 PMCID: PMC10830237 DOI: 10.1055/a-2226-8144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recognizing that alert fatigue poses risks to patient safety and clinician wellness, there is a growing emphasis on evaluation and governance of electronic health record clinical decision support (CDS). This is particularly critical for interruptive alerts to ensure that they achieve desired clinical outcomes while minimizing the burden on clinicians. This study describes an improvement effort to address a problematic interruptive alert intended to notify clinicians about patients needing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) precautions and how we collaborated with operational leaders to develop an alternative passive CDS system in acute care areas. OBJECTIVES Our dual aim was to reduce the alert burden by redesigning the CDS to adhere to best practices for decision support while also improving the percent of admitted patients with symptoms of possible COVID who had appropriate and timely infection precautions orders. METHODS Iterative changes to CDS design included adjustment to alert triggers and acknowledgment reasons and development of a noninterruptive rule-based order panel for acute care areas. Data on alert burden and appropriate precautions orders on symptomatic admitted patients were followed over time on run and attribute (p) and individuals-moving range control charts. RESULTS At baseline, the COVID alert fired on average 8,206 times per week with an alert per encounter rate of 0.36. After our interventions, the alerts per week decreased to 1,449 and alerts per encounter to 0.07 equating to an 80% reduction for both metrics. Concurrently, the percentage of symptomatic admitted patients with COVID precautions ordered increased from 23 to 61% with a reduction in the mean time between COVID test and precautions orders from 19.7 to -1.3 minutes. CONCLUSION CDS governance, partnering with operational stakeholders, and iterative design led to successful replacement of a frequently firing interruptive alert with less burdensome passive CDS that improved timely ordering of COVID precautions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fallon
- Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Kristina Haralambides
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Justin Mazzillo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
| | - Conrad Gleber
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States
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Xu L, Sockler PG, Park G, Grossberg AL, Wan J. Characterization of patient portal messaging use and content among a pediatric atopic dermatitis population: A cross-sectional study. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024; 90:165-168. [PMID: 37704108 PMCID: PMC10841176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.08.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lillian Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patrick G Sockler
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Giho Park
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anna L Grossberg
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joy Wan
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
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Chen CY, Chen YL, Scholl J, Yang HC, Li YCJ. Ability of machine-learning based clinical decision support system to reduce alert fatigue, wrong-drug errors, and alert users about look alike, sound alike medication. COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 243:107869. [PMID: 37924770 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The overall benefits of using clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) can be restrained if physicians inadvertently ignore clinically useful alerts due to "alert fatigue" caused by an excessive number of clinically irrelevant warnings. Moreover, inappropriate drug errors, look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) drug errors, and problem list documentation are common, costly, and potentially harmful. This study sought to evaluate the overall performance of a machine learning-based CDSS (MedGuard) for triggering clinically relevant alerts, acceptance rate, and to intercept inappropriate drug errors as well as LASA drug errors. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study that evaluated MedGuard alerts, the alert acceptance rate, and the rate of LASA alerts between July 1, 2019, and June 31, 2021, from outpatient settings at an academic hospital. An expert pharmacist checked the suitability of the alerts, rate of acceptance, wrong-drug errors, and confusing drug pairs. RESULTS Over the two-year study period, 1,206,895 prescriptions were ordered and a total of 28,536 alerts were triggered (alert rate: 2.36 %). Of the 28,536 alerts presented to physicians, 13,947 (48.88 %) were accepted. A total of 8,014 prescriptions were changed/modified (28.08 %, 8,014/28,534) with the most common reasons being adding and/or deleting diseases (52.04 %, 4,171/8,014), adding and/or deleting drugs (21.89 %, 1,755/8,014) and others (35.48 %, 2,844/ 8,014). However, the rate of drug error interception was 1.64 % (470 intercepted errors out of 28,536 alerts), which equates to 16.4 intercepted errors per 1000 alerted orders. CONCLUSION This study shows that machine learning based CDSS, MedGuard, has an ability to improve patients' safety by triggering clinically valid alerts. This system can also help improve problem list documentation and intercept inappropriate drug errors and LASA drug errors, which can improve medication safety. Moreover, high acceptance of alert rates can help reduce clinician burnout and adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-You Chen
- College of Medical Science and Technology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Radiation Oncology, Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan; Information Technology Office in Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan; Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Lin Chen
- College of Medical Science and Technology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education, University of Washington, United States
| | | | - Hsuan-Chia Yang
- College of Medical Science and Technology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; International Center for Health Information Technology (ICHIT), Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Clinical Big Data Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Big Data and Meta-analysis, Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chuan Jack Li
- College of Medical Science and Technology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; International Center for Health Information Technology (ICHIT), Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Research Center of Big Data and Meta-analysis, Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Wanfang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
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McGowan M, Rose D, Paez M, Stewart G, Stockdale S. Frontline perspectives on adoption and non-adoption of care management tools for high-risk patients in primary care. HEALTHCARE (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 11:100719. [PMID: 37748215 DOI: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2023.100719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population health management tools (PHMTs) embedded within electronic health records (EHR) could improve management of high-risk patients and reduce costs associated with potentially avoidable emergency department visits or hospitalizations. Adoption of PHMTs across the Veterans Health Administration (VA) has been variable and previous research suggests that understaffed primary care (PC) teams might not be using the tools. METHODS We conducted a retrospective content analysis of open-text responses (n = 1804) from the VA's 2018 national primary care personnel survey to, 1) identify system-level and individual-level factors associated with why clinicians are not using the tools, and 2) to document clinicians' recommendations to improve tool adoption. RESULTS We found three themes pertaining to low adoption and/or tool use: 1) IT burden and administrative tasks (e.g., manually mailing letters to patients), 2) staffing shortages (e.g., nurses covering multiple teams), and 3) no training or difficulty using the tools (e.g., not knowing how to access the tools or use the data). Frontline clinician recommendations included automating some tasks, reconfiguring team roles to shift administrative work away from providers and nurses, consolidating PHMTs into a centralized, easily accessible repository, and providing training. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare system-level factors (staffing) and individual-level factors (lack of training) can limit adoption of PHMTs that could be useful for reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. Future research, including qualitative interviews with clinicians who use/don't use the tools, could help develop interventions to address barriers to adoption. IMPLICATIONS Shifting more administrative tasks to clerical staff would free up clinician time for population health management but may not be possible for understaffed PC teams. Additionally, healthcare systems may be able to increase PHMT use by making them more easily accessible through the electronic health record and providing training in their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael McGowan
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA.
| | - Danielle Rose
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA
| | - Monica Paez
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Healthcare System, USA
| | - Gregory Stewart
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation, Iowa City VA Healthcare System, USA; Department of Management and Organizations, Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, USA
| | - Susan Stockdale
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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11
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Stretton B, Jiang M, Kovoor J, Inglis JM, Lam L, Tan S, Yuson C, Smith W, Shakib S, Bacchi S. Artificial intelligence-enabled penicillin allergy delabelling: an implementation study. Intern Med J 2023; 53:2119-2122. [PMID: 37997266 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Inaccurate penicillin allergy labels may be delabelled following evaluation. The intervention in this study was an email-based notification system regarding the appropriateness for penicillin allergy evaluation, with a view to delabelling, as identified by a deep learning artificial intelligence algorithm. Of the intervention group (n = 59), three (5.1%) individuals had their penicillin allergies delabelled, which was significantly more than the control group (0%, P = 0.002). Further research to optimise such approaches is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Stretton
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Melinda Jiang
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua Kovoor
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua M Inglis
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Lydia Lam
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sheryn Tan
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Chino Yuson
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - William Smith
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sepehr Shakib
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen Bacchi
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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12
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Wosny M, Strasser LM, Hastings J. Experience of Health Care Professionals Using Digital Tools in the Hospital: Qualitative Systematic Review. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e50357. [PMID: 37847535 PMCID: PMC10618886 DOI: 10.2196/50357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The digitalization of health care has many potential benefits, but it may also negatively impact health care professionals' well-being. Burnout can, in part, result from inefficient work processes related to the suboptimal implementation and use of health information technologies. Although strategies to reduce stress and mitigate clinician burnout typically involve individual-based interventions, emerging evidence suggests that improving the experience of using health information technologies can have a notable impact. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review was to collect evidence of the benefits and challenges associated with the use of digital tools in hospital settings with a particular focus on the experiences of health care professionals using these tools. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature review following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to explore the experience of health care professionals with digital tools in hospital settings. Using a rigorous selection process to ensure the methodological quality and validity of the study results, we included qualitative studies with distinct data that described the experiences of physicians and nurses. A panel of 3 independent researchers performed iterative data analysis and identified thematic constructs. RESULTS Of the 1175 unique primary studies, we identified 17 (1.45%) publications that focused on health care professionals' experiences with various digital tools in their day-to-day practice. Of the 17 studies, 10 (59%) focused on clinical decision support tools, followed by 6 (35%) studies focusing on electronic health records and 1 (6%) on a remote patient-monitoring tool. We propose a theoretical framework for understanding the complex interplay between the use of digital tools, experience, and outcomes. We identified 6 constructs that encompass the positive and negative experiences of health care professionals when using digital tools, along with moderators and outcomes. Positive experiences included feeling confident, responsible, and satisfied, whereas negative experiences included frustration, feeling overwhelmed, and feeling frightened. Positive moderators that may reinforce the use of digital tools included sufficient training and adequate workflow integration, whereas negative moderators comprised unfavorable social structures and the lack of training. Positive outcomes included improved patient care and increased workflow efficiency, whereas negative outcomes included increased workload, increased safety risks, and issues with information quality. CONCLUSIONS Although positive and negative outcomes and moderators that may affect the use of digital tools were commonly reported, the experiences of health care professionals, such as their thoughts and emotions, were less frequently discussed. On the basis of this finding, this study highlights the need for further research specifically targeting experiences as an important mediator of clinician well-being. It also emphasizes the importance of considering differences in the nature of specific tools as well as the profession and role of individual users. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42023393883; https://tinyurl.com/2htpzzxj.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Wosny
- School of Medicine, University of St Gallen (HSG), St Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Janna Hastings
- School of Medicine, University of St Gallen (HSG), St Gallen, Switzerland
- Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Steitz BD, Padi-Adjirackor NA, Griffith KN, Reese TJ, Rosenbloom ST, Ancker JS. Impact of notification policy on patient-before-clinician review of immediately released test results. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2023; 30:1707-1710. [PMID: 37403329 PMCID: PMC10531100 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocad126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The 21st Century Cures Act mandates immediate availability of test results upon request. The Cures Act does not require that patients be informed of results, but many organizations send notifications when results become available. Our medical center implemented 2 sequential policies: immediate notifications for all results, and notifications only to patients who opt in. We used over 2 years of data from Vanderbilt University Medical Center to measure the effect of these policies on rates of patient-before-clinician result review and patient-initiated messaging using interrupted time series analysis. When releasing test results with immediate notification, the proportion of patient-before-clinician review increased 4-fold and the proportion of patients who sent messages rose 3%. After transition to opt-in notifications, patient-before-clinician review decreased 2.4% and patient-initiated messaging decreased 0.4%. Replacing automated notifications with an opt-in policy provides patients flexibility to indicate their preferences but may not substantially alleviate clinicians' messaging workload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D Steitz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Kevin N Griffith
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Thomas J Reese
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - S Trent Rosenbloom
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jessica S Ancker
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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14
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Gross ME, Godecker A, Hughes A, Sampene K. Leveraging quality improvement to promote health equity: standardization of prenatal aspirin recommendations. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:651. [PMID: 37684606 PMCID: PMC10492279 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05922-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Aspirin (ASA) is recommended for patients at elevated risk of preeclampsia. Limited data exists on adherence to guidelines for ASA prescription. This project evaluates the implementation of a standardized approach to ASA prescription in an academic OB/Gyn practice. METHODS We implemented a quality improvement project to evaluate compliance with the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for ASA to prevent preeclampsia. Pre-intervention, we analyzed prescription adherence at 201 New Obstetric (NOB) visits. A multi-step intervention was then implemented at 199 NOB visits. Nurses utilized a checklist created from USPSTF guidelines to identify high-risk patients, defined as having ≥1 high-risk factor or ≥2 moderate-risk factors. ASA orders were placed by physicians. A Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle was performed, and changes implemented. Primary outcome was percent of patients screened at RN intake visit (goal = 90%). Secondary outcomes were percent of patients who screened positive that received the ASA recommendation (goal = 80%) and percent screened and recommended by race. RESULTS Pre-intervention, 47% of patients met criteria for ASA and 28% received a documented recommendation. Post-intervention, 99% were screened. Half (48%) met criteria for an ASA recommendation and 79% received a recommendation (p = < 0.001). Rates of appropriate recommendation did not differ by Black (80%) vs. non-Black (79%) status (p = 0.25). Subsequent PDSA cycles for 12 months neared 100% RN screening rates. Physicians correctly recommended ASA 80-100% of the time. CONCLUSION It is feasible, sustainable and equitable to standardize screening and implementation of ASA to patients at high risk for preeclampsia. Providers can easily reproduce our processes to improve delivery of equitable and reliable preventative obstetric care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya E Gross
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Amy Godecker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ainsley Hughes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, George Washington School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Katherine Sampene
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
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15
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Lin AY, Arabandi S, Beale T, Duncan WD, Hicks A, Hogan WR, Jensen M, Koppel R, Martínez-Costa C, Nytrø Ø, Obeid JS, de Oliveira JP, Ruttenberg A, Seppälä S, Smith B, Soergel D, Zheng J, Schulz S. Improving the Quality and Utility of Electronic Health Record Data through Ontologies. STANDARDS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 3:316-340. [PMID: 37873508 PMCID: PMC10591519 DOI: 10.3390/standards3030023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The translational research community, in general, and the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) community, in particular, share the vision of repurposing EHRs for research that will improve the quality of clinical practice. Many members of these communities are also aware that electronic health records (EHRs) suffer limitations of data becoming poorly structured, biased, and unusable out of original context. This creates obstacles to the continuity of care, utility, quality improvement, and translational research. Analogous limitations to sharing objective data in other areas of the natural sciences have been successfully overcome by developing and using common ontologies. This White Paper presents the authors' rationale for the use of ontologies with computable semantics for the improvement of clinical data quality and EHR usability formulated for researchers with a stake in clinical and translational science and who are advocates for the use of information technology in medicine but at the same time are concerned by current major shortfalls. This White Paper outlines pitfalls, opportunities, and solutions and recommends increased investment in research and development of ontologies with computable semantics for a new generation of EHRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asiyah Yu Lin
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | | | - William D. Duncan
- College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Amanda Hicks
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723, USA
| | - William R. Hogan
- Data Science Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | | | - Ross Koppel
- Department of Medical Informatics, Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
- Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Catalina Martínez-Costa
- Department of Informatics and Systems, Faculty of Computer Science, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Øystein Nytrø
- Department of Computer Science, UIT Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Computer Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jihad S. Obeid
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | | | - Alan Ruttenberg
- School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Selja Seppälä
- Department of Business Information Systems, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
| | - Barry Smith
- Department of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Dagobert Soergel
- Department of Philosophy, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria
- Averbis GmbH, Salzstrasse 15, 79098 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
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16
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Adkins BD, Murfin R, Luu HS, Noland DK. Paediatric clinical decision support: Evaluation of a best practice alert for red blood cell transfusion. Vox Sang 2023; 118:746-752. [PMID: 37431735 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Providing red blood cell (RBC) transfusion to paediatric patients with a haemoglobin (Hb) level of <7 g/dL is the current best practice, but it is often difficult to ensure appropriateness of RBC transfusion on a health system level. Electronic health record (EHR) clinical decision support systems have been shown to be effective in encouraging providers to transfuse at appropriate Hb thresholds. We present our experience with an interruptive best practice alert (BPA) at a paediatric healthcare system. MATERIALS AND METHODS An interruptive BPA requiring physician response was implemented in our EHR (Epic Systems Corp., Verona, WI, USA) in 2018 based on Hb thresholds for inpatients. The threshold was initially <8 g/dL and later changed to <7 g/dL in 2019. We assessed total activations, number of RBC transfusions and hospital metrics through 2022 compared to the 2 years prior to implementation. RESULTS The BPA activated 6956 times over 4 years, slightly less than 5/day, and the success rate, with no RBC transfusions within 24 h of order attempt, was 14.5% (1012/6956). There was a downward trend in the number of total RBC transfusions and RBC transfusions per admission after implementation, non-significant (p = 0.41 and p = >0.99). The annual case mix index was similar over the years evaluated. The estimated cost savings based on acquisition costs for RBC units were 213,822 USD or about $51,891 per year. CONCLUSION BPA implementation led to sustained change in RBC transfusion towards best practice, and there were long-term savings in RBC expenditure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Adkins
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Roberta Murfin
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Hung S Luu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel K Noland
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
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17
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Elkefi S, Asan O. Perceived Patient Workload and Its Impact on Outcomes During New Cancer Patient Visits: Analysis of a Convenience Sample. JMIR Hum Factors 2023; 10:e49490. [PMID: 37594798 PMCID: PMC10474510 DOI: 10.2196/49490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies exploring the workload in health care focus on the doctors' perspectives. The ecology of the health care environment is critical and different for doctors and patients. OBJECTIVE In this study, we explore the patient workload among newly diagnosed patients with cancer during their first visit and its impact on the patient's perceptions of the quality of care (their trust in their doctors, their satisfaction with the care visits, their perception of technology use). METHODS We collected data from the Hackensack Meridian Health, John Theurer Cancer Center between February 2021 and May 2022. The technology use considered during the visit is related to doctors' use of electronic health records. A total of 135 participants were included in the study. Most participants were 50-64 years old (n=91, 67.41%). A majority (n=81, 60%) of them were White, and only (n=16, 11.85%) went to graduate schools. RESULTS The findings captured the significant effect of overall workload on trust in doctors and perception of health IT use within the visits. On the other hand, the overall workload did not impact patients' satisfaction during the visit. A total of 80% (n=108) of patients experienced an overall high level of workload. Despite almost 55% (n=75) of them experiencing a high mental load, 71.1% (n=96) reported low levels of effort, 89% (n=120) experienced low time pressure, 85.2% (n=115) experienced low frustration levels, and 69.6% (n=94) experienced low physical activity. The more overall workload patients felt, the less they trusted their doctors (odds ratio [OR] 0.059, 95% CI 0.001-2.34; P=.007). Low trust was also associated with the demanding mental tasks in the visits (OR 0.055, 95% CI 0.002-2.64; P<.001), the physical load (OR 0.194, 95% CI 0.004-4.23; P<.001), the time load (OR 0.183, 95% CI 0.02-2.35; P=.046) the effort needed to cope with the environment (OR 0.163, 95% CI 0.05-1.69; P<.001), and the frustration levels (OR 0.323, 95% CI 0.04-2.55; P=.03). The patients' perceptions of electronic health record use during the visit were negatively impacted by the overall workload experienced by the patients (OR 0.315, 95% CI 0.08-6.35; P=.01) and the high frustration level experienced (OR 0.111, 95% CI 0.015-3.75; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS The study's findings established pathways for future research and have implications for cancer patients' workload. Better technology design and use can minimize perceived workload, which might contribute to the trust relationship between doctors and patients in this critical environment. Future human factors work needs to explore the workload and driving factors in longitudinal studies and assess whether these workloads might contribute to unintended patient outcomes and medical errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Elkefi
- School of Systems and Enterprises, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, United States
| | - Onur Asan
- School of Systems and Enterprises, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, United States
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18
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Bacchi S, Kovoor J, Gupta A, Tan S, Sherbon T, Bersten A, O'Callaghan PG, Chan WO. Improving health care efficiency one click at a time. Intern Med J 2023; 53:1261-1264. [PMID: 37401652 DOI: 10.1111/imj.16160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Computers are an integral component of modern hospitals. Mouse clicks are currently inherent to this use of computers. However, mouse clicks are not instantaneous. These clicks may be associated with significant costs. Estimated costs associated with 10 additional clicks per day for 20 000 staff exceed AU$500 000 annually. Workflow modifications that increase clicks should weigh the potential benefits of such changes against these costs. Future investigation of strategies to reduce low-value clicks may provide an avenue for health care savings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Bacchi
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joshua Kovoor
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Aashray Gupta
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Health and Information, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sheryn Tan
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tony Sherbon
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Bersten
- Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Patrick G O'Callaghan
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Weng O Chan
- University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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19
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Rotenstein LS, Brown R, Sinsky C, Linzer M. The Association of Work Overload with Burnout and Intent to Leave the Job Across the Healthcare Workforce During COVID-19. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:1920-1927. [PMID: 36959522 PMCID: PMC10035977 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08153-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Burnout has risen across healthcare workers during the pandemic, contributing to workforce turnover. While prior literature has largely focused on physicians and nurses, there is a need to better characterize and identify actionable predictors of burnout and work intentions across healthcare role types. OBJECTIVE To characterize the association of work overload with rates of burnout and intent to leave (ITL) the job in a large national sample of healthcare workers. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey study conducted between April and December 2020. SETTING A total of 206 large healthcare organizations. PARTICIPANTS Physicians, nurses, other clinical staff, and non-clinical staff. MEASURES Work overload, burnout, and ITL. RESULTS The sample of 43,026 respondents (mean response rate 44%) was comprised of 35.2% physicians, 25.7% nurses, 13.3% other clinical staff, and 25.8% non-clinical staff. The overall burnout rate was 49.9% (56.0% in nursing, 54.1% in other clinical staff, 47.3% in physicians, and 45.6% in non-clinical staff; p < 0.001 for difference). ITL was reported by 28.7% of healthcare workers, with nurses most likely to report ITL (41.0%), followed by non-clinical staff (32.6%), other clinical staff (32.1%), and physicians (24.3%) (p < 0.001 for difference). The prevalence of perceived work overload ranged from 37.1% among physicians to 47.4% in other clinical staff. In propensity-weighted models, work overload was significantly associated with burnout (adjusted risk ratio (ARR) 2.21 to 2.90) and intent to leave (ARR 1.73 to 2.10) across role types. LIMITATIONS Organizations' participation in the survey was voluntary. CONCLUSIONS There are high rates of burnout and intent to leave the job across healthcare roles. Proactively addressing work overload across multiple role types may help with concerning trends across the healthcare workforce. This will require a more granular understanding of sources of work overload across different role types, and a commitment to matching work demands to capacity for all healthcare workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Rotenstein
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Roger Brown
- University of Wisconsin School of Nursing, Madison, USA
| | | | - Mark Linzer
- Hennepin Healthcare and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
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Ma JE, Lowe J, Berkowitz C, Kim A, Togo I, Musser RC, Fischer J, Shah K, Ibrahim S, Bosworth HB, Totten AM, Dolor R. Provider Interaction With an Electronic Health Record Notification to Identify Eligible Patients for a Cluster Randomized Trial of Advance Care Planning in Primary Care: Secondary Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e41884. [PMID: 37171856 DOI: 10.2196/41884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advance care planning (ACP) improves patient-provider communication and aligns care to patient values, preferences, and goals. Within a multisite Meta-network Learning and Research Center ACP study, one health system deployed an electronic health record (EHR) notification and algorithm to alert providers about patients potentially appropriate for ACP and the clinical study. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to describe the implementation and usage of an EHR notification for referring patients to an ACP study, evaluate the association of notifications with study referrals and engagement in ACP, and assess provider interactions with and perspectives on the notifications. METHODS A secondary analysis assessed provider usage and their response to the notification (eg, acknowledge, dismiss, or engage patient in ACP conversation and refer patient to the clinical study). We evaluated all patients identified by the EHR algorithm during the Meta-network Learning and Research Center ACP study. Descriptive statistics compared patients referred to the study to those who were not referred to the study. Health care utilization, hospice referrals, and mortality as well as documentation and billing for ACP and related legal documents are reported. We evaluated associations between notifications with provider actions (ie, referral to study, ACP not documentation, and ACP billing). Provider free-text comments in the notifications were summarized qualitatively. Providers were surveyed on their satisfaction with the notification. RESULTS Among the 2877 patients identified by the EHR algorithm over 20 months, 17,047 unique notifications were presented to 45 providers in 6 clinics, who then referred 290 (10%) patients. Providers had a median of 269 (IQR 65-552) total notifications, and patients had a median of 4 (IQR 2-8). Patients with more (over 5) notifications were less likely to be referred to the study than those with fewer notifications (57/1092, 5.2% vs 233/1785, 13.1%; P<.001). The most common free-text comment on the notification was lack of time. Providers who referred patients to the study were more likely to document ACP and submit ACP billing codes (P<.001). In the survey, 11 providers would recommend the notification (n=7, 64%); however, the notification impacted clinical workflow (n=9, 82%) and was difficult to navigate (n=6, 55%). CONCLUSIONS An EHR notification can be implemented to remind providers to both perform ACP conversations and refer patients to a clinical study. There were diminishing returns after the fifth EHR notification where additional notifications did not lead to more trial referrals, ACP documentation, or ACP billing. Creation and optimization of EHR notifications for study referrals and ACP should consider the provider user, their workflow, and alert fatigue to improve implementation and adoption. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03577002; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03577002.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Ma
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jared Lowe
- Division of General Medicine & Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Callie Berkowitz
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Azalea Kim
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ira Togo
- Duke Office of Clinical Research, Durham, NC, United States
| | - R Clayton Musser
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jonathan Fischer
- Department of Community & Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Population Health Management Office, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Kevin Shah
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Salam Ibrahim
- Duke Health Performance Services, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Hayden B Bosworth
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Community & Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Annette M Totten
- Oregon Rural Practice Based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Rowena Dolor
- Division of General Medicine & Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Samal L, Wu E, Aaron S, Kilgallon JL, Gannon M, McCoy A, Blecker S, Dykes PC, Bates DW, Lipsitz S, Wright A. Refining Clinical Phenotypes to Improve Clinical Decision Support and Reduce Alert Fatigue: A Feasibility Study. Appl Clin Inform 2023; 14:528-537. [PMID: 37437601 PMCID: PMC10338104 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Most care for early CKD is provided in primary care, including hypertension (HTN) management. Computerized clinical decision support (CDS) can improve the quality of care for CKD but can also cause alert fatigue for primary care physicians (PCPs). Computable phenotypes (CPs) are algorithms to identify disease populations using, for example, specific laboratory data criteria. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine the feasibility of implementation of CDS alerts by developing CPs and estimating potential alert burden. METHODS We utilized clinical guidelines to develop a set of five CPs for patients with stage 3 to 4 CKD, uncontrolled HTN, and indications for initiation or titration of guideline-recommended antihypertensive agents. We then conducted an iterative data analytic process consisting of database queries, data validation, and subject matter expert discussion, to make iterative changes to the CPs. We estimated the potential alert burden to make final decisions about the scope of the CDS alerts. Specifically, the number of times that each alert could fire was limited to once per patient. RESULTS In our primary care network, there were 239,339 encounters for 105,992 primary care patients between April 1, 2018 and April 1, 2019. Of these patients, 9,081 (8.6%) had stage 3 and 4 CKD. Almost half of the CKD patients, 4,191 patients, also had uncontrolled HTN. The majority of CKD patients were female, elderly, white, and English-speaking. We estimated that 5,369 alerts would fire if alerts were triggered multiple times per patient, with a mean number of alerts shown to each PCP ranging from 0.07-to 0.17 alerts per week. CONCLUSION Development of CPs and estimation of alert burden allows researchers to iteratively fine-tune CDS prior to implementation. This method of assessment can help organizations balance the tradeoff between standardization of care and alert fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lipika Samal
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Edward Wu
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama, United States
| | - Skye Aaron
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - John L. Kilgallon
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Michael Gannon
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, United States
| | - Allison McCoy
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Saul Blecker
- NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Patricia C. Dykes
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - David W. Bates
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Stuart Lipsitz
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Adam Wright
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
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22
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Chen J, Cutrona SL, Dharod A, Bunch SC, Foley KL, Ostasiewski B, Hale ER, Bridges A, Moses A, Donny EC, Sutfin EL, Houston TK. Monitoring the Implementation of Tobacco Cessation Support Tools: Using Novel Electronic Health Record Activity Metrics. JMIR Med Inform 2023; 11:e43097. [PMID: 36862466 PMCID: PMC10020903 DOI: 10.2196/43097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical decision support (CDS) tools in electronic health records (EHRs) are often used as core strategies to support quality improvement programs in the clinical setting. Monitoring the impact (intended and unintended) of these tools is crucial for program evaluation and adaptation. Existing approaches for monitoring typically rely on health care providers' self-reports or direct observation of clinical workflows, which require substantial data collection efforts and are prone to reporting bias. OBJECTIVE This study aims to develop a novel monitoring method leveraging EHR activity data and demonstrate its use in monitoring the CDS tools implemented by a tobacco cessation program sponsored by the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I). METHODS We developed EHR-based metrics to monitor the implementation of two CDS tools: (1) a screening alert reminding clinic staff to complete the smoking assessment and (2) a support alert prompting health care providers to discuss support and treatment options, including referral to a cessation clinic. Using EHR activity data, we measured the completion (encounter-level alert completion rate) and burden (the number of times an alert was fired before completion and time spent handling the alert) of the CDS tools. We report metrics tracked for 12 months post implementation, comparing 7 cancer clinics (2 clinics implemented the screening alert and 5 implemented both alerts) within a C3I center, and identify areas to improve alert design and adoption. RESULTS The screening alert fired in 5121 encounters during the 12 months post implementation. The encounter-level alert completion rate (clinic staff acknowledged completion of screening in EHR: 0.55; clinic staff completed EHR documentation of screening results: 0.32) remained stable over time but varied considerably across clinics. The support alert fired in 1074 encounters during the 12 months. Providers acted upon (ie, not postponed) the support alert in 87.3% (n=938) of encounters, identified a patient ready to quit in 12% (n=129) of encounters, and ordered a referral to the cessation clinic in 2% (n=22) of encounters. With respect to alert burden, on average, both alerts fired over 2 times (screening alert: 2.7; support alert: 2.1) before completion; time spent postponing the screening alert was similar to completing (52 vs 53 seconds) the alert, and time spent postponing the support alert was more than completing (67 vs 50 seconds) the alert per encounter. These findings inform four areas where the alert design and use can be improved: (1) improving alert adoption and completion through local adaptation, (2) improving support alert efficacy by additional strategies including training in provider-patient communication, (3) improving the accuracy of tracking for alert completion, and (4) balancing alert efficacy with the burden. CONCLUSIONS EHR activity metrics were able to monitor the success and burden of tobacco cessation alerts, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of potential trade-offs associated with alert implementation. These metrics can be used to guide implementation adaptation and are scalable across diverse settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinying Chen
- iDAPT Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah L Cutrona
- iDAPT Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ajay Dharod
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Implementation Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Wake Forest Center for Healthcare Innovation, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Wake Forest Center for Biomedical Informatics, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Stephanie C Bunch
- Center for Health Analytics, Media, and Policy, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Kristie L Foley
- iDAPT Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Implementation Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Brian Ostasiewski
- Clinical & Translational Science Institute, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Erica R Hale
- iDAPT Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Aaron Bridges
- Clinical & Translational Science Institute, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Adam Moses
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Eric C Donny
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Erin L Sutfin
- Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Thomas K Houston
- iDAPT Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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McBride S, Alexander GL, Baernholdt M, Vugrin M, Epstein B. Scoping review: Positive and negative impact of technology on clinicians. Nurs Outlook 2023; 71:101918. [PMID: 36801609 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unnecessary electronic health record (EHRs) documentation burden and usability issues have negatively impacted clinician well-being (e.g., burnout and moral distress). PURPOSE This scoping review was conducted by members from three expert panels of the American Academy of Nurses to generate consensus on the evidence of both positive and negative impact of EHRs on clinicians. METHODS The scoping review was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. RESULTS The scoping review captured 1,886 publications screened against title and abstract 1,431 excluded, examined 448 in a full-text review, excluded 347 with 101 studies informing the final review. DISCUSSION Findings suggest few studies that have explored the positive impact of EHRs and more studies that have explored the clinician's satisfaction and work burden. Significant gaps were identified in associating distress to use of EHRs and minimal studies on EHRs' impact on nurses. CONCLUSION Examined the evidence of HIT's positive and negative impacts on clinician's practice, clinicians work environment, and if psychological impact differed among clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan McBride
- School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX.
| | | | | | | | - Beth Epstein
- University of Virginia School of Nursing, Charlottesville, VA
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24
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Pearson DS, McEvoy DS, Murali MR, Dighe AS. Use of Clinical Decision Support to Improve the Laboratory Evaluation of Monoclonal Gammopathies. Am J Clin Pathol 2023; 159:192-204. [PMID: 36622340 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqac151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There is considerable variation in ordering practices for the initial laboratory evaluation of monoclonal gammopathies (MGs) despite clear society guidelines to include serum free light chain (sFLC) testing. We assessed the ability of a clinical decision support (CDS) alert to improve guideline compliance and analyzed its clinical impact. METHODS We designed and deployed a targeted CDS alert to educate and prompt providers to order an sFLC assay when ordering serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) testing. RESULTS The alert was highly effective at increasing the co-ordering of SPEP and sFLC testing. Preimplementation, 62.8% of all SPEP evaluations included sFLC testing, while nearly 90% of evaluations included an sFLC assay postimplementation. In patients with no prior sFLC testing, analysis of sFLC orders prompted by the alert led to the determination that 28.9% (800/2,769) of these patients had an abnormal κ/λ ratio. In 452 of these patients, the sFLC assay provided the only laboratory evidence of a monoclonal protein. Moreover, within this population, there were numerous instances of new diagnoses of multiple myeloma and other MGs. CONCLUSIONS The CDS alert increased compliance with society guidelines and improved the diagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected MGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Pearson
- Department of Pathology Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Mandakolathur R Murali
- Department of Pathology Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USAand
| | - Anand S Dighe
- Department of Pathology Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Massachuscetts General Brigham, Somerville, MA, USA
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25
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Puranik C, Slavik A, Pickett K, Dani A, Generalovich Z, Neveaux L, de Peralta T. Development of integrated electronic medical and dental record competencies and impact of training modalities. J Dent Educ 2023; 87:660-668. [PMID: 36718532 DOI: 10.1002/jdd.13175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided incentives for the adoption of electronic health records. The integrated electronic medical and dental records (iEMDRs) can minimize healthcare charting errors. The use of iEMDR by healthcare students requires training and competence. There are no defined student competencies to assess the effective and responsible use of iEMDR in dentistry. The goal of this study was to propose a student competency model and study the impact of training modalities on iEMDR competency. METHODS This retrospective observational cohort study evaluated de-identified assessment scores (AS) and performance scores (PS) in predoctoral dental student (PDS) and advanced standing predoctoral (ASP) student cohorts that received remote or in-person iEMDR training. The AS and PS evaluated the knowledge and application of iEMDR, respectively. A voluntary survey evaluated students' self-perceived preparedness for iEMDR use. Linear regressions were used to determine the association between training modality and scores. Mantel-Haenszel ordinal chi-square tested differences between groups and agreement by training type. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS The sample size (N = 214) provided 95% power to detect differences between study groups. The knowledge of iEMDR (AS) was not impacted due to the training type (p = 0.90) in either student cohorts, whereas the application of knowledge (PS) was higher in ASP student cohort after remote training (p < 0.001) as compared to PDS student cohort. Higher proportion of students perceived preparedness after remote learning in comparison to in-person training (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION The iEMDR competency model was useful to test the effective and responsible use of iEMDR, and remote training improved students' self-perceived preparedness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaitanya Puranik
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children's Hospital Colorado and School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Amanda Slavik
- Doctor of Dental Surgery Candidate, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kaci Pickett
- Center for Research Outcomes in Children's Surgery (ROCS), Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Aditee Dani
- Graduate Student in Analytics Program, University of Harrisburg, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zora Generalovich
- Clinical Application Services, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Lindsay Neveaux
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Tracy de Peralta
- Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Inovation, School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Fletcher E, Burns A, Wiering B, Lavu D, Shephard E, Hamilton W, Campbell JL, Abel G. Workload and workflow implications associated with the use of electronic clinical decision support tools used by health professionals in general practice: a scoping review. BMC PRIMARY CARE 2023; 24:23. [PMID: 36670354 PMCID: PMC9857918 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-01973-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electronic clinical decision support tools (eCDS) are increasingly available to assist General Practitioners (GP) with the diagnosis and management of a range of health conditions. It is unclear whether the use of eCDS tools has an impact on GP workload. This scoping review aimed to identify the available evidence on the use of eCDS tools by health professionals in general practice in relation to their impact on workload and workflow. METHODS A scoping review was carried out using the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework. The search strategy was developed iteratively, with three main aspects: general practice/primary care contexts, risk assessment/decision support tools, and workload-related factors. Three databases were searched in 2019, and updated in 2021, covering articles published since 2009: Medline (Ovid), HMIC (Ovid) and Web of Science (TR). Double screening was completed by two reviewers, and data extracted from included articles were analysed. RESULTS The search resulted in 5,594 references, leading to 95 full articles, referring to 87 studies, after screening. Of these, 36 studies were based in the USA, 21 in the UK and 11 in Australia. A further 18 originated from Canada or Europe, with the remaining studies conducted in New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia. Studies examined the use of eCDS tools and reported some findings related to their impact on workload, including on consultation duration. Most studies were qualitative and exploratory in nature, reporting health professionals' subjective perceptions of consultation duration as opposed to objectively-measured time spent using tools or consultation durations. Other workload-related findings included impacts on cognitive workload, "workflow" and dialogue with patients, and clinicians' experience of "alert fatigue". CONCLUSIONS The published literature on the impact of eCDS tools in general practice showed that limited efforts have focused on investigating the impact of such tools on workload and workflow. To gain an understanding of this area, further research, including quantitative measurement of consultation durations, would be useful to inform the future design and implementation of eCDS tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Fletcher
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - Alex Burns
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - Bianca Wiering
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - Deepthi Lavu
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - Elizabeth Shephard
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - Willie Hamilton
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - John L. Campbell
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
| | - Gary Abel
- grid.8391.30000 0004 1936 8024College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, Devon EX1 2LU England
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Jarrar M, Al-Bsheish M, Albaker W, Alsaad I, Alkhalifa E, Alnufaili S, Almajed N, Alhawaj R, Al-Hariri MT, Alsunni AA, Aldhmadi BK, Alumran A. Hospital Work Conditions and the Mediation Role of Burnout: Residents and Practicing Physicians Reporting Adverse Events. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2023; 16:1-13. [PMID: 36636034 PMCID: PMC9830421 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s392523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background "Patient Safety" in everyday practices is a target of healthcare leaders, and adverse events reported by healthcare providers directly reflect patient safety in the health system. Recognising how residents and practising physicians rate adverse events concerning their work conditions and burnout must be explored. Objective This study aims to explore the mediation effect of burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion and burnout-interpersonal disengagement) between the effects of work conditions on perceived patient safety by exploring the adverse events that residents and practising physicians reported. Methods A quantitative and cross-sectional study collected data from 249 residents and practising physicians in a huge teaching hospital and primary health care centre (PHC) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Hayes Macro regression analysis was employed to evaluate the multiple mediation effect of burnout dimensions, with 5000 bootstrapping and a confidence interval (CI) of 95% for statistical inference and p≤0.05 for the significance level. Results Leadership support (B= 0.39, t= 6.24, p<0.001) and physician engagement (B=0.43, t=6.50, p<0.001) were associated with a decreased rate of adverse events to patient safety, whereas workload (B=-0.23, t=-3.73, p<0.001) was negatively associated with an increased rate of adverse events. Burnout was shown to mediate the relationship between the effects of physician's leadership support (R2=0.26, F=27.50, p<0.001), work engagement (R2=0.25, F=27.07, p<0.001) and workload (R2=0.23, F=24.23, p<0.001) on the rate of adverse events. Conclusion This study provides insights into burnout dimensions and their consequences on patient safety indicators (ie, adverse events). Work conditions (ie, leadership support, physician engagement, and workload) directly affect the rate of adverse events and indirectly through mediators like burnout-emotional exhaustion and burnout-interpersonal disengagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu’taman Jarrar
- Medical Education Department, King Fahad Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia,College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia,Correspondence: Mu’taman Jarrar, Al-Khobar, 34445, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 54 471 8523, Email ;
| | - Mohammad Al-Bsheish
- Health Management Department, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,Al-Nadeem Governmental Hospital, Ministry of Health, Amman, Jordan,Mohammad Al-Bsheish, Jeddah, 21442, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 59 103 6065, Email
| | - Waleed Albaker
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibtihal Alsaad
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eiman Alkhalifa
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sara Alnufaili
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nour Almajed
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem Alhawaj
- College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad T Al-Hariri
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed A Alsunni
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Badr K Aldhmadi
- Department of Health Management, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arwa Alumran
- Health Information Management and Technology, College of Public Health, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Whooten R, Horan C, Aguirre A, Dartley AN, Taveras E. Parent and Pediatrician Perspectives on Physical Activity Promotion in Pediatric Primary Care: A Preliminary Mixed Methods Study. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:65-76. [PMID: 35817761 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221113317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To elicit preliminary pediatrician and parent perspectives on physical activity (PA) counseling and identify opportunities for improvement. DESIGN Mixed methods, including a cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Primary care pediatricians (N = 73; 40% response rate) within a single large healthcare system and parents of students (N = 20) participating in a local school-based PA program in eastern Massachusetts. METHODS Electronic survey of pediatricians assessing opinions of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) PA guidelines and potential PA promotion tools; semi-structured qualitative interviews with parents assessing overall discussion, education, and recommendations relating to PA. ANALYSIS We report descriptive statistics for survey items and bivariate analyses comparing responses by physician characteristics. We performed thematic analysis of qualitative interviews and present results through an implementation science framework. RESULTS In this preliminary study, pediatricians reported adoption, appropriateness, and lower perceived effectiveness of PA counseling. School-based programs and educational materials were most often chosen as PA promotion tools. Responses varied by pediatrician characteristics. While parents reported satisfaction, opportunities for improvement included connections with community resources and continued conversations with the child about PA. CONCLUSIONS Pediatricians and parents highlighted gaps in PA counseling in primary care. While results are preliminary given small sample size, this study provides actionable targets to support PA promotion as a preventive health priority in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Whooten
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine Horan
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Annabelle Aguirre
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna Nicole Dartley
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elsie Taveras
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Kraft Center for Community Health, 2348Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Park YE, Han JH, Tak YW, Lee Y. Production and Provision of Context-Based Patient-Specific Educational Resources. J Korean Med Sci 2022; 37:e316. [PMID: 36345258 PMCID: PMC9641148 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient education is generally accompanied by instructive materials. The Korean government has recommended the provision of patient-specific educational materials (PEMs) via an electronic medical record (EMR) certification system. However, there are currently no clear standards or guidelines for including PEMs in current domestic educational materials. We investigated the benefits of integrating PEMs with the EMR certification system and the methods by which this integration can be achieved. METHODS We developed and administered three structured Delphi surveys to 26 healthcare providers in clinical settings based on data collected from separate semi-structured advisory interviews with five experts. The surveys included the following topics: 1) expected effects of patient-specific education and health-related notifications/alarms, 2) desirable methods for providing PEMs, and 3) appropriate fee-setting and government support. We distributed the Delphi surveys via e-mail and calculated the average and standard deviation of the survey responses. RESULTS PEMs are expected to have significant educational effects, such as the provision of surgery/intervention-related information, and will improve the understanding of various treatment processes/procedures. The preferred method for providing PEMs was via automatic request after receiving confirmation from healthcare providers. The provision of these materials was based on set fees and government support. The average fee per session was set at approximately USD 23 (as of October 2021, USD 1 = KRW 1,196). CONCLUSION In this study, we investigated the prerequisites, contents, methods, and fees related to the provision of effective and efficient PEMs. The study findings can facilitate the production and provision of PEMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Eun Park
- Department of Information Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeong Hyun Han
- Big Data Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yae Won Tak
- Big Data Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Science, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yura Lee
- Department of Information Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Everson
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee.,Data Analysis Branch, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC
| | - Stacie B Dusetzina
- Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
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31
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Gallo T, Heise CW, Woosley RL, Tisdale JE, Antonescu CC, Gephart SM, Malone DC. Clinician Satisfaction With Advanced Clinical Decision Support to Reduce the Risk of Torsades de Pointes. J Patient Saf 2022; 18:e1010-e1013. [PMID: 35238815 DOI: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clinical decision support (CDS) can potentially help clinicians identify and manage patients who are at risk for torsades de pointes (TdP). However, computer alerts are often ignored and might contribute to alert fatigue. The goals of this project were to create an advanced TdP CDS advisory that presents patient-specific, relevant information, including 1-click management options, and to determine clinician satisfaction with the CDS. METHODS The advanced TdP CDS was developed and implemented across a health system comprising 29 hospitals. The advisory presents patient-specific information including relevant risk factors, laboratory values, and 1-click options to help manage the condition in high-risk patients. A short electronic survey was created to gather clinician feedback on the advisory. RESULTS After implementation, an email invitation to complete the anonymous advisory-related survey was sent to 442 clinicians who received the advisory. Among the 38 respondents, feedback was generally positive, with 79% of respondents reporting that the advisory helps them care for their patients and 87% responding that alternative actions for them to consider were clearly specified. However, 46% of respondents indicated the alert appeared too frequently. CONCLUSIONS Advanced TdP risk CDS that provides relevant, patient-specific information and 1-click management options can be generally viewed favorably by clinicians who receive the advisory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sheila M Gephart
- Community and Health Systems Science Division, College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Daniel C Malone
- College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Li C, Parpia C, Sriharan A, Keefe DT. Electronic medical record-related burnout in healthcare providers: a scoping review of outcomes and interventions. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060865. [PMID: 35985785 PMCID: PMC9396159 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-060865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Healthcare provider (HCP) burnout is on the rise with electronic medical record (EMR) use being cited as a factor, particularly with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. Burnout in HCPs is associated with negative patient outcomes, and, therefore, it is crucial to understand and address each factor that affects HCP burnout. This study aims to (a) assess the relationship between EMR use and burnout and (b) explore interventions to reduce EMR-related burnout. METHODS We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL and SCOPUS on 29 July 2021. We selected all studies in English from any publication year and country that discussed burnout in HCPs (physicians, nurse practitioners and registered nurses) related to EMR use. Studies must have reported a quantitative relationship to be included. Studies that implemented an intervention to address this burnout were also included. All titles and abstracts were screened by two reviewers, and all full-text articles were reviewed by two reviewers. Any conflicts were addressed with a third reviewer and resolved through discussion. Quality of evidence of all included articles was assessed using the Quality Rating Scheme for Studies and Other Evidence. FINDINGS The search identified 563 citations with 416 citations remaining after duplicate removal. A review of abstracts led to 59 studies available for full-text assessment, resulting in 25 studies included in the scoping review. Commonly identified associations between EMR-related burnout in HCPs included: message and alert load, time spent on EMRs, organisational support, EMR functionality and usability and general use of EMRs. Two articles employed team-based interventions to improve burnout symptoms without significant improvement in burnout scores. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Current literature supports an association between EMR use and provider burnout. Very limited evidence exists for burnout-reducing interventions that address factors such as time spent on EMRs, organisational support or EMR design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calandra Li
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Camilla Parpia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abi Sriharan
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Krembil Centre for Healthcare Management and Leadership, Schulich School of Business, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel T Keefe
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Garabedian PM, Gannon MP, Aaron S, Wu E, Burns Z, Samal L. Human-centered design of clinical decision support for management of hypertension with chronic kidney disease. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2022; 22:217. [PMID: 35964083 PMCID: PMC9375189 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-022-01962-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Primary care providers face challenges in recognizing and controlling hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Clinical decision support (CDS) has the potential to aid clinicians in identifying patients who could benefit from medication changes. This study designed an alert to control hypertension in CKD patients using an iterative human-centered design process. Methods In this study, we present a human-centered design process employing multiple methods for gathering user requirements and feedback on design and usability. Initially, we conducted contextual inquiry sessions to gather user requirements for the CDS. This was followed by group design sessions and one-on-one formative think-aloud sessions to validate requirements, obtain feedback on the design and layout, uncover usability issues, and validate changes. Results This study included 20 participants. The contextual inquiry produced 10 user requirements which influenced the initial alert design. The group design sessions revealed issues related to several themes, including recommendations and clinical content that did not match providers' expectations and extraneous information on the alerts that did not provide value. Findings from the individual think-aloud sessions revealed that participants disagreed with some recommended clinical actions, requested additional information, and had concerns about the placement in their workflow. Following each step, iterative changes were made to the alert content and design. Discussion This study showed that participation from users throughout the design process can lead to a better understanding of user requirements and optimal design, even within the constraints of an EHR alerting system. While raising awareness of design needs, it also revealed concerns related to workflow, understandability, and relevance. Conclusion The human-centered design framework using multiple methods for CDS development informed the creation of an alert to assist in the treatment and recognition of hypertension in patients with CKD. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-022-01962-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela M Garabedian
- Mass General Brigham, 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville, MA, 857-282-4091, USA.
| | - Michael P Gannon
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Skye Aaron
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward Wu
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL, USA
| | - Zoe Burns
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lipika Samal
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Arvisais-Anhalt S, Wickenhauser KA, Lusk K, Lehmann CU, McCormack JL, Feterik K. Direct Secure Messaging in Practice-Recommendations for Improvements. Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13:767-773. [PMID: 35926794 PMCID: PMC9352441 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1753540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Arvisais-Anhalt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States,Department of Hospital Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States
| | | | - Katherine Lusk
- Texas Health Services Authority, Austin, Texas, United States
| | | | - James L. McCormack
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States,Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Kristian Feterik
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States,Address for correspondence Kristian Feterik, MD, MBA Department of Medicine, UPMC Montefiore200 Lothrop Street, MUH G-100, Pittsburgh, PA 15213United States
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35
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Livaudais M, Deng D, Frederick T, Grey-Theriot F, Kroth PJ. Perceived Value of the Electronic Health Record and Its Association with Physician Burnout. Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13:778-784. [PMID: 35981548 PMCID: PMC9388222 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1755372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a common belief that seniority and gender are associated with clinicians' perceptions of the value of electronic health record (EHR) technology and the propensity for burnout. Insufficient evidence exists on the relationship between these variables. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate how seniority/years of practice, gender, and screened burnout status are associated with opinions of EHR use on quality, cost, and efficiency of care. METHODS We surveyed ambulatory primary care and subspecialty clinicians at three different institutions to screen for burnout status and to measure their opinions (positive, none, negative, don't know) on how EHR technology has impacted three important attributes of health care: quality, cost, and efficiency of care. We used chi-square tests to analyze association between years of practice (≤10 years or 11+ years), gender, and screened burnout status and the reported attributes. We used a Bonferroni-corrected α = 0.0167 for significance to protect against type I error among multiple comparisons. RESULTS Overall, 281 clinicians responded from 640 that were surveyed with 44% overall response rate. There were no significant associations of years in practice (≤10 years or 11+ years) or gender (p > 0.0167 for both) with any of the health care attributes. Clinicians who screened burnout negative (n = 154, 55%) were more likely to indicate that EHR technology has a positive impact on both the quality (p = 0.0025) and efficiency (p = 0.0003) health care attributes compared with those who screened burnout positive (n = 127, 45%). CONCLUSION Burnout status is significantly associated with clinicians' perceived value of EHR technologies, while years of practice and gender are not. This contests the popular notion that junior clinicians view EHR technology more favorably than their more senior counterparts. Hence, burnout status may be an important factor associated with the overall value clinicians ascribe to EHR technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Livaudais
- Department of Public Health, California State University East Bay, California, United States
| | - Derek Deng
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
| | - Tracy Frederick
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
| | - Francine Grey-Theriot
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
| | - Philip J. Kroth
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
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36
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Chen Y, Adler-Milstein J, Sinsky C. Measuring and Maximizing Undivided Attention in the Context of Electronic Health Records. Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13:774-777. [PMID: 35790200 PMCID: PMC9371726 DOI: 10.1055/a-1892-1437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- You Chen
- Dept. of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University, nashville, United States
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37
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Bitter CC, Parmentier M, Subramaniam DS, Byrne L, Buchanan P. An electronic health record alert increases human immunodeficiency virus screening and case identification in a high-risk emergency department population. Int J STD AIDS 2022; 33:722-725. [PMID: 35531598 DOI: 10.1177/09564624221096001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Increased screening for HIV is required to reduce mortality and transmission. Patients with risk factors for HIV may lack access to routine care and emergency departments are an important site for screening and linkage to care. We implemented an electronic health record algorithm to identify patients meeting criteria for HIV screening. Compared to unstructured clinical judgement, the EHR alert increased the number of patients screened and case identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy C Bitter
- Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, 12274Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Divya S Subramaniam
- Department of Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, 12274Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.,Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute, 12274Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Laurie Byrne
- Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, 12274Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Paula Buchanan
- Department of Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, 12274Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.,Advanced HEAlth Data (AHEAD) Institute, 12274Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
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Voreis S, Mattay G, Cook T. Informatics Solutions to Mitigate Legal Risk Associated With Communication Failures. J Am Coll Radiol 2022; 19:823-828. [PMID: 35654145 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Communication failures are a documented cause of malpractice litigation against radiologists. As imaging volumes have increased, and with them the number of findings requiring further workup, radiologists are increasingly expected to communicate with ordering clinicians. However, communication may be unsuccessful for a variety of reasons that expose radiologists to potential malpractice risk. Informatics solutions have the potential to improve communication and decrease this risk. We discuss human-powered, purely automated, and hybrid approaches to closing the communications loop. In addition, we describe the Patient Test Results Information Act (Pennsylvania Act 112) and its implications for closing the loop on noncritical actionable findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahodat Voreis
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Govind Mattay
- John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Tessa Cook
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Chief, 3-D and Advanced Imaging; Codirector, Center for Practice Transformation in Radiology; Fellowship Director, Imaging Informatics; Member, ACR Informatics Commission; Vice Chair, ACR Commission on Patient- and Family-Centered Care; Past Cochair, ACR Informatics Summit.
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Pierce RP, Eskridge B, Ross B, Wright M, Selva T. Impact of a Vendor-Developed Opioid Clinical Decision Support Intervention on Adherence to Prescribing Guidelines, Opioid Prescribing, and Rates of Opioid-Related Encounters. Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13:419-430. [PMID: 35445387 PMCID: PMC9021002 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1745830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Provider prescribing practices contribute to an excess of opioid-related deaths in the United States. Clinical guidelines exist to assist providers with improving prescribing practices and promoting patient safety. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) may promote adherence to these guidelines and improve prescribing practices. The aim of this project was to improve opioid guideline adherence, prescribing practices, and rates of opioid-related encounters through the implementation of an opioid CDSS. METHODS A vendor-developed, provider-targeted CDSS package was implemented in a multi-location academic health center. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed, evaluating 30 weeks pre- and post-implementation time periods. Outcomes were derived from vendor-supplied key performance indicators and directly from the electronic health record (EHR) database. Opioid-prescribing outcomes included count of opioid prescriptions, morphine milligram equivalents per prescription, counts of opioids with concurrent benzodiazepines, and counts of short-acting opioids in opioid-naïve patients. Encounter outcomes included rates of encounters for opioid abuse and dependence and rates of encounters for opioid poisoning and overdose. Guideline adherence outcomes included rates of provision of naloxone and documentation of opioid treatment agreements. RESULTS The opioid CDSS generated an average of 1,637 alerts per week. Rates of provision of naloxone and opioid treatment agreements improved after CDSS implementation. Vendor-supplied prescribing outcomes were consistent with prescribing outcomes derived directly from the EHR, but all prescribing and encounter outcomes were unchanged. CONCLUSION A vendor-developed, provider-targeted opioid CDSS did not improve opioid-prescribing practices or rates of opioid-related encounters. The CDSS improved some measures of provider adherence to opioid-prescribing guidelines. Further work is needed to determine the optimal configuration of opioid CDSS so that opioid-prescribing patterns are appropriately modified and encounter outcomes are improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Pierce
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, United States
| | - Bernie Eskridge
- Department of Child Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, United States
| | - Brandi Ross
- Tiger Institute, Cerner Corporation, Columbia, Missouri, United States
| | - Matthew Wright
- University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, Missouri, United States
| | - Thomas Selva
- Department of Child Health, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, United States
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Goldman A, Kathrins M. Optimized Use of the Electronic Health Record and Other Clinical Resources to Enhance the Management of Hypogonadal Men. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2022; 51:217-228. [PMID: 35216718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecl.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Electronic health records (EHRs) have enabled electronic documentation of a tremendous amount of clinical data. EHRs have the potential to improve communication between patients and their providers, facilitate quality improvement and outcomes research, and reduce medical errors. Conversely, EHRs have also increased clinician burnout, information clutter, and depersonalization of the interactions between patients and their providers. Increasing clinician input into EHR design, providing access to technical help, streamlining of workflow, and the use of custom templates that have fewer requirements for evaluation and management coding can reduce this burnout and increase the utility of this advancing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Goldman
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, RFB-2, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Martin Kathrins
- Division of Urology, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 45 Francis Street, ASB-II, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Identifying individuals with persistently normal safety monitoring blood tests whilst taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis or azathioprine for inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective cohort study. Br J Gen Pract 2022; 72:e528-e537. [PMID: 35256384 PMCID: PMC8936183 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp.2021.0595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate and azathioprine, are commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Blood-test safety monitoring is mainly undertaken in primary care. Normal blood results are common. Aim To determine the frequency and associations of persistently normal blood tests in patients with RA prescribed methotrexate, and patients with IBD prescribed azathioprine. Design and setting Two-year retrospective study of a cohort taken from an electronic pseudonymised primary care/laboratory database covering >1.4 million patients across Hampshire, UK. Method Patients with RA and IBD, and associated methotrexate and azathioprine prescriptions, respectively, were identified. Tests and test thresholds recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence were applied. Persistent normality was defined as no abnormalities of any tests nor alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood count (WBC), neutrophils, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) individually. Logistic regression was used to identify associations with test normality. Results Of 702 265 adults, 7102 had RA and 8597 had IBD. In total, 3001 (42.3%) patients with RA were prescribed methotrexate and 1162 (13.5%) patients with IBD were prescribed azathioprine; persistently normal tests occurred in 1585 (52.8%) and 657 (56.5%) of the populations, respectively. In patients with RA on methotrexate, 585 (19.5%) had eGFR, 219 (7.3%) ALT, 217 (7.2%) WBC, and 202 (6.7%) neutrophil abnormalities. In patients with IBD on azathioprine, 138 (11.9%) had WBC, 88 (7.6%) eGFR, 72 (6.2%) ALT, and 65 (5.6%) neutrophil abnormalities. Those least likely to have persistent test normality were older and/or had comorbidities. Conclusion Persistent test normality is common when monitoring these DMARDs, with few hepatic or haematological abnormalities. More stratified monitoring approaches should be explored.
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Kruse CS, Mileski M, Dray G, Johnson Z, Shaw C, Shirodkar H. Physician Burnout and the Electronic Health Record Leading up to and During The First Year of COVID-19: A Systematic Review (Preprint). J Med Internet Res 2022; 24:e36200. [PMID: 35120019 PMCID: PMC9015762 DOI: 10.2196/36200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Physician burnout was first documented in 1974, and the electronic health record (EHR) has been known to contribute to the symptoms of physician burnout. Authors pondered the extent of this effect, recognizing the increased use of telemedicine during the first year of COVID-19. Objective The aim of this review was to objectively analyze the literature over the last 5 years for empirical evidence of burnout incident to the EHR and to identify barriers to, facilitators to, and associated patient satisfaction with using the EHR to improve symptoms of burnout. Methods No human participants were involved in this review; however, 100% of participants in studies analyzed were adult physicians. We queried 4 research databases and 1 targeted journal for studies commensurate with the objective statement from January 1, 2016 through January 31, 2021 (n=25). Results The hours spent in documentation and workflow are responsible for the sense of loss of autonomy, lack of work-life balance, lack of control of one’s schedule, cognitive fatigue, a general loss of autonomy, and poor relationships with colleagues. Researchers have identified training, local customization of templates and workflow, and the use of scribes as strategies to alleviate the administrative burden of the EHR and decrease symptoms of burnout. Conclusions The solutions provided in the literature only addressed 2 of the 3 factors (workflow and documentation time) but not the third factor (usability). Practitioners and administrators should focus on the former 2 factors because they are within their sphere of control. EHR vendors should focus on empirical evidence to identify and improve the usability features with the greatest impact. Researchers should design experiments to explore solutions that address all 3 factors of the EHR that contribute to burnout. Trial Registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42020201820; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=201820 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/15490
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Affiliation(s)
- Clemens Scott Kruse
- School of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Michael Mileski
- School of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Gevin Dray
- School of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Zakia Johnson
- School of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Cameron Shaw
- School of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Harsha Shirodkar
- School of Health Administration, College of Health Professions, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
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Lee NS, Anastos-Wallen R, Chaiyachati KH, Reitz C, Asch DA, Mehta SJ. Clinician Decisions After Notification of Elevated Blood Pressure Measurements From Patients in a Remote Monitoring Program. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2143590. [PMID: 35029664 PMCID: PMC8760617 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.43590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Guidelines recommend using telehealth for hypertension management, but insufficient evidence is available to guide strategies for incorporating telehealth data into clinical practice. OBJECTIVE To describe how primary care teams responded to elevated remote blood pressure (BP) alerts in the electronic health record (EHR) in a randomized clinical trial of BP telemonitoring conducted in routine practice settings. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study reviewed EHR documentation from May 8, 2018, to August 9, 2019, in a single urban academic family practice site. Primary care teams comprising 28 attending physicians and nurse practitioners, residents, and nurses cared for 162 patients in a text-based clinical trial of remote BP monitoring remote BP monitoring. Data were analyzed from October 21, 2019, to April 30, 2021. EXPOSURES Clinicians received a direct message in their EHR inbox when patients submitted at least 3 elevated BP readings. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Categories and frequencies of clinician action, created via review of EHR-documented clinician responses to EHR alerts by 2 physicians. RESULTS Patients in this study (n = 162) were predominantly female (111 [68.5%]) and Black or African American (146 [90.1%]), whereas attending physicians (n = 21) were predominantly female (13 [61.9%]) and non-Hispanic White (19 [90.5%]) with a mean (SD) age of 51.6 (11.1) years. Five hundred fifty-two alerts fell into 12 categories of clinical actions. Clinicians acted on 343 alerts (62.1%). Common remote activities were to reconcile medications and assess adherence (120 of 552 alerts [21.7%]) and verify BP measurement technique (65 of 552 alerts [11.8%]). Clinicians also commonly requested appointments (120 of 552 alerts [21.7%]) and/or saw the patient in a subsequent office visit (114 of 552 alerts [20.7%]). Ninety-six alerts (17.4%) resulted in medication changes; half of these changes were remote (48 of 96 [50.0%]), and the other half were visit-based. For 209 of 552 alerts (37.9%), no changes were made to the care plan, typically without documenting clinical rationale (196 of 209 instances [93.8%]). Exploratory EHR review was used to infer potential clinical rationale for 106 (54.1%) of such cases, but there was insufficient information for the remaining 90 (45.9%). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that EHR alerts for elevated BP during remote monitoring were effective in prompting a mix of remote and office-based management. It was also common for the plan of care to remain unchanged, possibly suggesting need for more refined alerts and improved clinician support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie S. Lee
- Division of General Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus
| | - Rebecca Anastos-Wallen
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Krisda H. Chaiyachati
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Catherine Reitz
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - David A. Asch
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Shivan J. Mehta
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Attipoe S, Hoffman J, Rust S, Huang Y, Barnard JA, Schweikhart S, Hefner JL, Walker DM, Linwood S. Characterization of Electronic Health Record Use Outside Scheduled Clinic Hours among Primary Care Pediatricians: A Retrospective Descriptive Task Analysis of Electronic Health Record Access Log Data (Preprint). JMIR Med Inform 2021; 10:e34787. [PMID: 35551055 PMCID: PMC9136654 DOI: 10.2196/34787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many of the benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) have not been achieved at expected levels because of a variety of unintended negative consequences such as documentation burden. Previous studies have characterized EHR use during and outside work hours, with many reporting that physicians spend considerable time on documentation-related tasks. These studies characterized EHR use during and outside work hours using clock time versus actual physician clinic schedules to define the outside work time. Objective This study aimed to characterize EHR work outside scheduled clinic hours among primary care pediatricians using a retrospective descriptive task analysis of EHR access log data and actual physician clinic schedules to define work time. Methods We conducted a retrospective, exploratory, descriptive task analysis of EHR access log data from primary care pediatricians in September 2019 at a large Midwestern pediatric health center to quantify and identify actions completed outside scheduled clinic hours. Mixed-effects statistical modeling was used to investigate the effects of age, sex, clinical full-time equivalent status, and EHR work during scheduled clinic hours on the use of EHRs outside scheduled clinic hours. Results Primary care pediatricians (n=56) in this study generated 1,523,872 access log data points (across 1069 physician workdays) and spent an average of 4.4 (SD 2.0) hours and 0.8 (SD 0.8) hours per physician per workday engaged in EHRs during and outside scheduled clinic hours, respectively. Approximately three-quarters of the time working in EHR during or outside scheduled clinic hours was spent reviewing data and reports. Mixed-effects regression revealed no associations of age, sex, or clinical full-time equivalent status with EHR use during or outside scheduled clinic hours. Conclusions For every hour primary care pediatricians spent engaged with the EHR during scheduled clinic hours, they spent approximately 10 minutes interacting with the EHR outside scheduled clinic hours. Most of their time (during and outside scheduled clinic hours) was spent reviewing data, records, and other information in EHR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selasi Attipoe
- Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jeffrey Hoffman
- Division of Clinical Informatics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Steve Rust
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yungui Huang
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - John A Barnard
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Sharon Schweikhart
- Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jennifer L Hefner
- Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Daniel M Walker
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Center for the Advancement of Team Science, Analytics, and Systems Thinking, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Simon Linwood
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
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Nanji KC, Garabedian PM, Shaikh SD, Langlieb ME, Boxwala A, Gordon WJ, Bates DW. Development of a Perioperative Medication-Related Clinical Decision Support Tool to Prevent Medication Errors: An Analysis of User Feedback. Appl Clin Inform 2021; 12:984-995. [PMID: 34820790 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Medication use in the perioperative setting presents many patient safety challenges that may be improved with electronic clinical decision support (CDS). The objective of this paper is to describe the development and analysis of user feedback for a robust, real-time medication-related CDS application designed to provide patient-specific dosing information and alerts to warn of medication errors in the operating room (OR). METHODS We designed a novel perioperative medication-related CDS application in four phases: (1) identification of need, (2) alert algorithm development, (3) system design, and (4) user interface design. We conducted group and individual design feedback sessions with front-line clinician leaders and subject matter experts to gather feedback about user requirements for alert content and system usability. Participants were clinicians who provide anesthesia (attending anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and house staff), OR pharmacists, and nurses. RESULTS We performed two group and eight individual design feedback sessions, with a total of 35 participants. We identified 20 feedback themes, corresponding to 19 system changes. Key requirements for user acceptance were: Use hard stops only when necessary; provide as much information as feasible about the rationale behind alerts and patient/clinical context; and allow users to edit fields such as units, time, and baseline values (e.g., baseline blood pressure). CONCLUSION We incorporated user-centered design principles to build a perioperative medication-related CDS application that uses real-time patient data to provide patient-specific dosing information and alerts. Emphasis on early user involvement to elicit user requirements, workflow considerations, and preferences during application development can result in time and money efficiencies and a safer and more usable system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen C Nanji
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Anaesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Mass General Brigham, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | | | - Sofia D Shaikh
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Marin E Langlieb
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Aziz Boxwala
- Elimu Informatics, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States
| | - William J Gordon
- Mass General Brigham, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - David W Bates
- Mass General Brigham, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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Mathioudakis N, Aboabdo M, Abusamaan MS, Yuan C, Lewis Boyer L, Pilla SJ, Johnson E, Desai S, Knight A, Greene P, Golden SH. Stakeholder Perspectives on an Inpatient Hypoglycemia Informatics Alert: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2021; 8:e31214. [PMID: 34842544 PMCID: PMC8665392 DOI: 10.2196/31214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is a common occurrence among hospitalized patients and is associated with poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality. Clinical decision support systems can be used to reduce the incidence of this potentially avoidable adverse event. Objective This study aims to determine the desired features and functionality of a real-time informatics alert to prevent iatrogenic hypoglycemia in a hospital setting. Methods Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Five Rights of Effective Clinical Decision Support Framework, we conducted a mixed methods study using an electronic survey and focus group sessions of hospital-based providers. The goal was to elicit stakeholder input to inform the future development of a real-time informatics alert to target iatrogenic hypoglycemia. In addition to perceptions about the importance of the problem and existing barriers, we sought input regarding the content, format, channel, timing, and recipient for the alert (ie, the Five Rights). Thematic analysis of focus group sessions was conducted using deductive and inductive approaches. Results A 21-item electronic survey was completed by 102 inpatient-based providers, followed by 2 focus group sessions (6 providers per session). Respondents universally agreed or strongly agreed that inpatient iatrogenic hypoglycemia is an important problem that can be addressed with an informatics alert. Stakeholders expressed a preference for an alert that is nonintrusive, accurate, communicated in near real time to the ordering provider, and provides actionable treatment recommendations. Several electronic medical record tools, including alert indicators in the patient header, glucose management report, and laboratory results section, were deemed acceptable formats for consideration. Concerns regarding alert fatigue were prevalent among both survey respondents and focus group participants. Conclusions The design preferences identified in this study will provide the framework needed for an informatics team to develop a prototype alert for pilot testing and evaluation. This alert will help meet the needs of hospital-based clinicians caring for patients with diabetes who are at a high risk of treatment-related hypoglycemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nestoras Mathioudakis
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Moeen Aboabdo
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mohammed S Abusamaan
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Christina Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - LaPricia Lewis Boyer
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Scott J Pilla
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Erica Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sanjay Desai
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amy Knight
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Peter Greene
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sherita H Golden
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Orenstein EW, Kandaswamy S, Muthu N, Chaparro JD, Hagedorn PA, Dziorny AC, Moses A, Hernandez S, Khan A, Huth HB, Beus JM, Kirkendall ES. Alert burden in pediatric hospitals: a cross-sectional analysis of six academic pediatric health systems using novel metrics. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021; 28:2654-2660. [PMID: 34664664 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocab179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excessive electronic health record (EHR) alerts reduce the salience of actionable alerts. Little is known about the frequency of interruptive alerts across health systems and how the choice of metric affects which users appear to have the highest alert burden. OBJECTIVE (1) Analyze alert burden by alert type, care setting, provider type, and individual provider across 6 pediatric health systems. (2) Compare alert burden using different metrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed interruptive alert firings logged in EHR databases at 6 pediatric health systems from 2016-2019 using 4 metrics: (1) alerts per patient encounter, (2) alerts per inpatient-day, (3) alerts per 100 orders, and (4) alerts per unique clinician days (calendar days with at least 1 EHR log in the system). We assessed intra- and interinstitutional variation and how alert burden rankings differed based on the chosen metric. RESULTS Alert burden varied widely across institutions, ranging from 0.06 to 0.76 firings per encounter, 0.22 to 1.06 firings per inpatient-day, 0.98 to 17.42 per 100 orders, and 0.08 to 3.34 firings per clinician day logged in the EHR. Custom alerts accounted for the greatest burden at all 6 sites. The rank order of institutions by alert burden was similar regardless of which alert burden metric was chosen. Within institutions, the alert burden metric choice substantially affected which provider types and care settings appeared to experience the highest alert burden. CONCLUSION Estimates of the clinical areas with highest alert burden varied substantially by institution and based on the metric used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan W Orenstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Division of Hospital Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Naveen Muthu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Juan D Chaparro
- Division of Clinical Informatics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Philip A Hagedorn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Adam C Dziorny
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, New York, USA.,Division of Critical Care Medicine, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Adam Moses
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sean Hernandez
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.,Department of General Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amina Khan
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hannah B Huth
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan M Beus
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eric S Kirkendall
- Center for Healthcare Innovation, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Davis S. Ready for Prime Time? Using Normalization Process Theory to Evaluate Implementation Success of Personal Health Records Designed for Decision Making. Front Digit Health 2021; 2:575951. [PMID: 34713047 PMCID: PMC8521962 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2020.575951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Personal health records designed for shared decision making (SDM) have the potential to engage patients and provide opportunities for positive health outcomes. Given the limited number of published interventions that become normal practice, this preimplementation evaluation of an integrated SDM personal health record system (e-PHR) was underpinned by Normalization Process Theory (NPT). The theory provides a framework to analyze cognitive and behavioral mechanisms known to influence implementation success. A mixed-methods investigation was utilized to explain the work required to implement e-PHR and its potential to integrate into practice. Patients, care providers, and electronic health record (EHR) and clinical leaders (n = 27) offered a rich explanation of the implementation work. Reliability tests of the NPT-based instrument negated the use of scores for two of the four mechanisms. Participants indicated that e-PHR made sense as explained by two qualitative themes: game-changing technology and sensibility of change. Participants appraised e-PHR as explained by two themes: reflecting on value and monitoring and adapting. The combined qualitative and quantitative results for the other two NPT mechanisms corroborated. Participants strongly agreed (score = 4.6/5) with processes requiring an investment in commitment, explained by two themes: sharing ownership of the work and enabling involvement. Weak agreement (score = 3.6/5) was observed with processes requiring an investment in effort, explained by one theme: uncovering the challenge of building collective action, and three subthemes: assessing fit, adapting to change together, and investing in the change. Finally, participants strongly agreed (score = 4.5/5) that e-PHR would positively affect engagement in self-management decision-making in two themes: care is efficient, and care is patient-centered. Overall, successful integration of e-PHR will only be attained when systemic effort is invested to enact it. Additional investigation is needed to explore the collective action gaps to inform priorities and approaches for future implementation success. This research has implications for patients, care providers, EHR vendors, and the healthcare system for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of patient-centric services. Findings confirm the usefulness of NPT for planning and understanding implementation success of PHRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena Davis
- Health Information Science, University Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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Almulhem JA, Aldekhyyel RN, Binkheder S, Temsah MH, Jamal A. Stress and Burnout Related to Electronic Health Record Use among Healthcare Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Preliminary National Randomized Survey. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:1367. [PMID: 34683047 PMCID: PMC8544434 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9101367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthcare providers' burnout may potentially have a negative impact on patient care. The use of the electronic health record (EHR) increases the burden for healthcare providers (HCPs), particularly during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study assessed the stress and burnout related to the use of EHRs and health information technology (HIT) tools among HCPs during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. We used a self-developed survey tool. It consisted of five sections; demographics and professional data, experience using EHR, effects of EHR use, use of EHR and technology tools during COVID-19, and health and wellbeing. The survey link was emailed to a random sample of HCPs registered with a national scientific regulatory body. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to measure the association between burnout and study variables. A total of 182 participants completed the survey. 50.5% of participants reported a presence of HIT-related stress, and 40.1% reported a presence of burnout. The variables independently associated with burnout were providing tertiary level of care, working with COVID-19 suspected cases, dissatisfaction with EHRs, and agreement with the statement that using EHRs added frustration to the workday. Further research that explores possible solutions is warranted to minimize burnout among HCPs, especially during infectious outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jwaher A. Almulhem
- Medical Informatics and E-learning Unit, Medical Education Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.N.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Raniah N. Aldekhyyel
- Medical Informatics and E-learning Unit, Medical Education Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.N.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Samar Binkheder
- Medical Informatics and E-learning Unit, Medical Education Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia; (R.N.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Mohamad-Hani Temsah
- Pediatric Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Amr Jamal
- Evidence-Based Health Care & Knowledge Translation Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia;
- Family & Community Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
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50
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Steitz BD, Unertl KM, Levy MA. An Analysis of Electronic Health Record Work to Manage Asynchronous Clinical Messages among Breast Cancer Care Teams. Appl Clin Inform 2021; 12:877-887. [PMID: 34528233 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Asynchronous messaging is an integral aspect of communication in clinical settings, but imposes additional work and potentially leads to inefficiency. The goal of this study was to describe the time spent using the electronic health record (EHR) to manage asynchronous communication to support breast cancer care coordination. METHODS We analyzed 3 years of audit logs and secure messaging logs from the EHR for care team members involved in breast cancer care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. To evaluate trends in EHR use, we combined log data into sequences of events that occurred within 15 minutes of any other event by the same employee about the same patient. RESULTS Our cohort of 9,761 patients were the subject of 430,857 message threads by 7,194 employees over a 3-year period. Breast cancer care team members performed messaging actions in 37.5% of all EHR sessions, averaging 29.8 (standard deviation [SD] = 23.5) messaging sessions per day. Messaging sessions lasted an average of 1.1 (95% confidence interval: 0.99-1.24) minutes longer than nonmessaging sessions. On days when the cancer providers did not otherwise have clinical responsibilities, they still performed messaging actions in an average of 15 (SD = 11.9) sessions per day. CONCLUSION At our institution, clinical messaging occurred in 35% of all EHR sessions. Clinical messaging, sometimes viewed as a supporting task of clinical work, is important to delivering and coordinating care across roles. Measuring the electronic work of asynchronous communication among care team members affords the opportunity to systematically identify opportunities to improve employee workload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan D Steitz
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Kim M Unertl
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States
| | - Mia A Levy
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States.,Division Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy, Department of Medicine, Rush University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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