scholarly journals An electronic health record (EHR) log analysis shows limited clinician engagement with unsolicited genetic test results

JAMIA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan G Nestor ◽  
Alexander Fedotov ◽  
David Fasel ◽  
Maddalena Marasa ◽  
Hila Milo-Rasouly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Genetic Test ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Genetic Test Results ◽  
Electronic Health

Abstract How clinicians utilize medically actionable genomic information, displayed in the electronic health record (EHR), in medical decision-making remains unknown. Participating sites of the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network have invested resources into EHR integration efforts to enable the display of genetic testing data across heterogeneous EHR systems. To assess clinicians’ engagement with unsolicited EHR-integrated genetic test results of eMERGE participants within a large tertiary care academic medical center, we analyzed automatically generated EHR access log data. We found that clinicians viewed only 1% of all the eMERGE genetic test results integrated in the EHR. Using a cluster analysis, we also identified different user traits associated with varying degrees of engagement with the EHR-integrated genomic data. These data contribute important empirical knowledge about clinicians limited and brief engagements with unsolicited EHR-integrated genetic test results of eMERGE participants. Appreciation for user-specific roles provide additional context for why certain users were more or less engaged with the unsolicited results. This study highlights opportunities to use EHR log data as a performance metric to more precisely inform ongoing EHR-integration efforts and decisions about the allocation of informatics resources in genomic research.

scholarly journals Optimizing the electronic health record: An inpatient sprint addresses provider burnout and improves electronic health record satisfaction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R Simpson ◽  
Chen-Tan Lin ◽  
Amber Sieja ◽  
Stefan H Sillau ◽  
Jonathan Pell
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Net Promoter Score ◽  
Net Promoter ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
Emotional Recovery ◽  
Very High

Abstract Objective We sought reduce electronic health record (EHR) burden on inpatient clinicians with a 2-week EHR optimization sprint. Materials and Methods A team led by physician informaticists worked with 19 advanced practice providers (APPs) in 1 specialty unit. Over 2 weeks, the team delivered 21 EHR changes, and provided 39 one-on-one training sessions to APPs, with an average of 2.8 hours per provider. We measured Net Promoter Score, thriving metrics, and time spent in the EHR based on user log data. Results Of the 19 APPs, 18 completed 2 or more sessions. The EHR Net Promoter Score increased from 6 to 60 postsprint (1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-1.8; P = .01). The NPS for the Sprint itself was 93, a very high rating. The 3-axis emotional thriving, emotional recovery, and emotional exhaustion metrics did not show a significant change. By user log data, time spent in the EHR did not show a significant decrease; however, 40% of the APPs responded that they spent less time in the EHR. Conclusions This inpatient sprint improved satisfaction with the EHR.

Assessing HIPAA Compliance of Open Source Electronic Health Record Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-195
Author(s):  
Hossain Shahriar ◽  
Hisham M. Haddad ◽  
Maryam Farhadi
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Patient Treatment ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Treatment Plans ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
Quality In Healthcare

Electronic health record (EHR) applications are digital versions of paper-based patient health information. EHR applications are increasingly being adopted in many countries. They have resulted in improved quality in healthcare, convenient access to histories of patient medication and clinic visits, easier follow up of patient treatment plans, and precise medical decision-making process. The goal of this paper is to identify HIPAA technical requirements, evaluate two open source EHR applications (OpenEMR and OpenClinic) for security vulnerabilities using two open-source scanner tools (RIPS and PHP VulnHunter), and map the identified vulnerabilities to HIPAA technical requirements.

scholarly journals Electronic health record-based clinical decision support alert for severe sepsis: a randomised evaluation

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 762-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Lance Downing ◽  
Joshua Rolnick ◽  
Sarah F Poole ◽  
Evan Hall ◽  
Alexander J Wessels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Sepsis ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Clinical Decision Support ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Electronic Health

BackgroundSepsis remains the top cause of morbidity and mortality of hospitalised patients despite concerted efforts. Clinical decision support for sepsis has shown mixed results reflecting heterogeneous populations, methodologies and interventions.ObjectivesTo determine whether the addition of a real-time electronic health record (EHR)-based clinical decision support alert improves adherence to treatment guidelines and clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients with suspected severe sepsis.DesignPatient-level randomisation, single blinded.SettingMedical and surgical inpatient units of an academic, tertiary care medical centre.Patients1123 adults over the age of 18 admitted to inpatient wards (intensive care units (ICU) excluded) at an academic teaching hospital between November 2014 and March 2015.InterventionsPatients were randomised to either usual care or the addition of an EHR-generated alert in response to a set of modified severe sepsis criteria that included vital signs, laboratory values and physician orders.Measurements and main resultsThere was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in primary outcome of the percentage of patients with new antibiotic orders at 3 hours after the alert (35% vs 37%, p=0.53). There was no difference in secondary outcomes of in-hospital mortality at 30 days, length of stay greater than 72 hours, rate of transfer to ICU within 48 hours of alert, or proportion of patients receiving at least 30 mL/kg of intravenous fluids.ConclusionsAn EHR-based severe sepsis alert did not result in a statistically significant improvement in several sepsis treatment performance measures.

scholarly journals Transition to a new electronic health record and pediatric medication safety: lessons learned in pediatrics within a large academic health system

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 848-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Whalen ◽  
Emily Lynch ◽  
Iman Moawad ◽  
Tanya John ◽  
Denise Lozowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Medication Safety ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
Roll Out

Abstract Objective While the electronic health record (EHR) has become a standard of care, pediatric patients pose a unique set of risks in adult-oriented systems. We describe medication safety and implementation challenges and solutions in the pediatric population of a large academic center transitioning its EHR to Epic. Methods Examination of the roll-out of a new EHR in a mixed neonatal, pediatric and adult tertiary care center with staggered implementation. We followed the voluntarily reported medication error rate for the neonatal and pediatric subsets and specifically monitored the first 3 months after the roll-out of the new EHR. Data was reviewed and compiled by theme. Results After implementation, there was a 5-fold increase in the overall number of medication safety reports; by the third month the rate of reported medication errors had returned to baseline. The majority of reports were near misses. Three major safety themes arose: (1) enterprise logic in rounding of doses and dosing volumes; (2) ordering clinician seeing a concentration and product when ordering medications; and (3) the need for standardized dosing units through age contexts created issues with continuous infusions and pump library safeguards. Conclusions Future research and work need to be focused on standards and guidelines on implementing an EHR that encompasses all age contexts.

A minimalist electronic health record-based intervention to reduce standing lab utilisation

2020 ◽  
pp. postgradmedj-2019-136992
Author(s):  
Kuo-Kai Chin ◽  
Amrita Krishnamurthy ◽  
Talhah Zubair ◽  
Tara Ramaswamy ◽  
Jason Hom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Complete Blood Count ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
One Year

BackgroundRepetitive laboratory testing in stable patients is low-value care. Electronic health record (EHR)-based interventions are easy to disseminate but can be restrictive.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of a minimally restrictive EHR-based intervention on utilisation.SettingOne year before and after intervention at a 600-bed tertiary care hospital. 18 000 patients admitted to General Medicine, General Surgery and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).InterventionProviders were required to specify the number of times each test should occur instead of being able to order them indefinitely.MeasurementsFor eight tests, utilisation (number of labs performed per patient day) and number of associated orders were measured.ResultsUtilisation decreased for some tests on all services. Notably, complete blood count with differential decreased 9% (p<0.001) on General Medicine and 21% (p<0.001) in the ICU.ConclusionsRequiring providers to specify the number of occurrences of labs changes significantly reduces utilisation in some cases.

scholarly journals How well is the electronic health record supporting the clinical tasks of hospital physicians? A survey of physicians at three Norwegian hospitals

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Roger Schopf ◽  
Bente Nedrebø ◽  
Karl Ove Hufthammer ◽  
Inderjit Kaur Daphu ◽  
Hallvard Lærum
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Electronic Health Record System ◽  
System Stability ◽  
Medical Decision ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Record System ◽  
Electronic Health

Abstract Background The electronic health record is expected to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. Many novel functionalities have been introduced in order to improve medical decision making and communication between health care personnel. There is however limited evidence on whether these new functionalities are useful. The aim of our study was to investigate how well the electronic health record system supports physicians in performing basic clinical tasks. Methods Physicians of three prominent Norwegian hospitals participated in the survey. They were asked, in an online questionnaire, how well the hospital’s electronic health record system DIPS supported 49 clinical tasks as well as how satisfied they were with the system in general, including the technical performance. Two hundred and eight of 402 physicians (52%) submitted a completely answered questionnaire. Results Seventy-two percent of the physicians had their work interrupted or delayed because the electronic health record hangs or crashes at least once a week, while 22% had experienced this problem daily. Fifty-three percent of the physicians indicated that the electronic health record is cumbersome to use and adds to their workload. The majority of physicians were satisfied with managing tests, e.g., requesting laboratory tests, reading test results and managing radiological investigations and electrocardiograms. Physicians were less satisfied with managing referrals. There was high satisfaction with some of the decision support functionalities available for prescribing drugs. This includes drug interaction alerts and drug allergy warnings, which are displayed automatically. However, physicians were less satisfied with other aspects of prescribing drugs, including getting an overview of the ongoing drug therapy. Conclusions In the survey physicians asked for improvements of certain electronic health record functionalities like medication, clinical workflow support including planning and better overviews. In addition, there is apparently a need to focus on system stability, number of logins, reliability and better instructions on available electronic health record features. Considerable development is needed in current electronic health record systems to improve usefulness and satisfaction.

scholarly journals Metrics for assessing physician activity using electronic health record log data

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 639-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine A Sinsky ◽  
Adam Rule ◽  
Genna Cohen ◽  
Brian G Arndt ◽  
Tait D Shanafelt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Clinical Environment ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Multiple Dimensions ◽  
Time Work ◽  
Physician Time ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
Practice Efficiency ◽  
Core Measures

Abstract Electronic health record (EHR) log data have shown promise in measuring physician time spent on clinical activities, contributing to deeper understanding and further optimization of the clinical environment. In this article, we propose 7 core measures of EHR use that reflect multiple dimensions of practice efficiency: total EHR time, work outside of work, time on documentation, time on prescriptions, inbox time, teamwork for orders, and an aspirational measure for the amount of undivided attention patients receive from their physicians during an encounter, undivided attention. We also illustrate sample use cases for these measures for multiple stakeholders. Finally, standardization of EHR log data measure specifications, as outlined here, will foster cross-study synthesis and comparative research.

scholarly journals Use of Electronic Health Record Access and Audit Logs to Identify Physician Actions Following Noninterruptive Alert Opening: Descriptive Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azraa Amroze ◽  
Terry S Field ◽  
Hassan Fouayzi ◽  
Devi Sundaresan ◽  
Laura Burns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Electronic Health

BACKGROUND Electronic health record (EHR) access and audit logs record behaviors of providers as they navigate the EHR. These data can be used to better understand provider responses to EHR–based clinical decision support (CDS), shedding light on whether and why CDS is effective. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the feasibility of using EHR access and audit logs to track primary care physicians’ (PCPs’) opening of and response to noninterruptive alerts delivered to EHR InBaskets. METHODS We conducted a descriptive study to assess the use of EHR log data to track provider behavior. We analyzed data recorded following opening of 799 noninterruptive alerts sent to 75 PCPs’ InBaskets through a prior randomized controlled trial. Three types of alerts highlighted new medication concerns for older patients’ posthospital discharge: information only (n=593), medication recommendations (n=37), and test recommendations (n=169). We sought log data to identify the person opening the alert and the timing and type of PCPs’ follow-up EHR actions (immediate vs by the end of the following day). We performed multivariate analyses examining associations between alert type, patient characteristics, provider characteristics, and contextual factors and likelihood of immediate or subsequent PCP action (general, medication-specific, or laboratory-specific actions). We describe challenges and strategies for log data use. RESULTS We successfully identified the required data in EHR access and audit logs. More than three-quarters of alerts (78.5%, 627/799) were opened by the PCP to whom they were directed, allowing us to assess immediate PCP action; of these, 208 alerts were followed by immediate action. Expanding on our analyses to include alerts opened by staff or covering physicians, we found that an additional 330 of the 799 alerts demonstrated PCP action by the end of the following day. The remaining 261 alerts showed no PCP action. Compared to information-only alerts, the odds ratio (OR) of immediate action was 4.03 (95% CI 1.67-9.72) for medication-recommendation and 2.14 (95% CI 1.38-3.32) for test-recommendation alerts. Compared to information-only alerts, ORs of medication-specific action by end of the following day were significantly greater for medication recommendations (5.59; 95% CI 2.42-12.94) and test recommendations (1.71; 95% CI 1.09-2.68). We found a similar pattern for OR of laboratory-specific action. We encountered 2 main challenges: (1) Capturing a historical snapshot of EHR status (number of InBasket messages at time of alert delivery) required incorporation of data generated many months prior with longitudinal follow-up. (2) Accurately interpreting data elements required iterative work by a physician/data manager team taking action within the EHR and then examining audit logs to identify corresponding documentation. CONCLUSIONS EHR log data could inform future efforts and provide valuable information during development and refinement of CDS interventions. To address challenges, use of these data should be planned before implementing an EHR–based study.

Incidence of interruptive penicillin allergy alerts in patients with previously documented beta-lactam exposure: Potential for leveraging the electronic health record to identify erroneous allergies

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Nicole Van Groningen ◽  
Ray Duncan ◽  
Galen Cook-Wiens ◽  
Aaron Kwong ◽  
Matthew Sonesen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Health Record ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Penicillin Allergy ◽  
Health Record ◽  
Beta Lactam ◽  
Tertiary Care Medical Center ◽  
Lactam Antibiotic ◽  
Electronic Health ◽  
Clinically Significant

Abstract Background: Approximately 10% of patients report allergies to penicillin, yet >90% of these allergies are not clinically significant. Patients reporting penicillin allergies are often treated with second-line, non–β-lactam antibiotics that are typically broader spectrum and more toxic. Orders for β-lactam antibiotics for these patients trigger interruptive alerts, even when there is electronic health record (EHR) data indicating prior β-lactam exposure. Objective: To describe the rate that interruptive penicillin allergy alerts display for patients who have previously had a β-lactam exposure. Design: Retrospective EHR review from January 2013 through June 2018. Setting: A nonprofit health system including 1 large tertiary-care medical center, a smaller associated hospital, 2 emergency departments, and ˜250 outpatient clinics. Participants: All patients with EHR-documented of penicillin allergies. Methods: We examined interruptive penicillin allergy alerts and identified the number and percentage of alerts that display for patients with a prior administration of a penicillin class or other β-lactam antibiotic. Results: Of 115,081 allergy alerts that displayed during the study period, 8% were displayed for patients who had an inpatient administration of a penicillin antibiotic after the allergy was noted, and 49% were displayed for patients with a prior inpatient administration of any β-lactam. Conclusions: Many interruptive penicillin allergy alerts display for patients who would likely tolerate a penicillin, and half of all alerts display for patients who would likely tolerate another β-lactam.

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