ABSTRACT
Today, healthcare annually invests billions of dollars in information technology, including clinical systems, electronic medical records and interoperability platforms. While continued investment and parallel development of standards are critical to secure exponential benefits from clinical information technology, intelligent and creative redesign of processes through path innovation is necessary to deliver meaningful value. Reports from two organizations included in this report review the steps taken to reinvent clinical processes that best leverage information technology to deliver safer and more efficient care. Good Samaritan Hospital, Vincennes, Indiana, implemented electronic charting, point-of-care bar coding of medications prior to administration, and integrated clinical documentation for nursing, laboratory, radiology and pharmacy. Tenet Healthcare, during its implementation and deployment of multiple clinical systems across several hospitals, focused on planning that included team-based process redesign. In addition, Tenet constructed valuable and measurable metrics that link outcomes with its strategic goals.
Subject(s)
Diffusion of Innovation , Efficiency, Organizational , Hospital Information Systems/organization & administration , Quality Control , Hospitals, Community , Indiana , Organizational Case StudiesABSTRACT
Although sophisticated economic modeling can be used to quantify intangible benefits, ROI calculations for clinical information systems are driven more by the values and strategic direction of an organization than by any other considerations. But investing in clinical information tools to ensure quality and patient safety is, in reality, required as a cost of doing business and functioning as a safe hospital.
Subject(s)
Decision Support Systems, Clinical/economics , Hospital Information Systems/economics , Investments/economics , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Models, Econometric , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Safety Management , United StatesSubject(s)
Medical Errors/prevention & control , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care/organization & administration , Patient Care/standards , Safety Management/organization & administration , Evidence-Based Medicine , Humans , Medical Records Systems, Computerized/standards , National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division , Needs Assessment , United StatesSubject(s)
Interdisciplinary Communication , Medical Informatics Applications , Patient Care Team/organization & administration , Professional Practice/organization & administration , Humans , Medical Errors/prevention & control , Medical Records Systems, Computerized/organization & administration , Quality Assurance, Health Care/methodsABSTRACT
Providers investing in a clinical information technology (IT) system should consider their organization's specific needs and those of the surrounding community. Assessments of clinical IT value should take into account factors beyond cost savings. Providers should be aware of related tangible benefits, such as reductions in length of stay and enhanced administrative and clinical services. The capability of a clinical IT system to help prevent medical errors and improve operational efficiency should weight heavily during a provider's assessment of whether to invest in the system.
Subject(s)
Capital Expenditures , Decision Support Systems, Clinical/economics , Financial Management, Hospital/methods , Investments/economics , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Decision Making, Organizational , Financial Management , Humans , United StatesSubject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Attitude to Computers , Decision Support Systems, Clinical , Hospital Information Systems/organization & administration , Medical Staff, Hospital/psychology , Decision Making, Organizational , Diffusion of Innovation , Humans , Medical Staff, Hospital/supply & distribution , Personnel Selection , Practice Guidelines as Topic , United States , WorkloadABSTRACT
Clinician adoption of CPOE/CDS solutions is crucial to helping caregivers reduce medical errors and enhance patient safety. The LeapFrog Group CPOE/CDS report can be a helpful guide, but as clinicians concerned about the quality of health care and the well-being of our patients, we must play an active role in the successful adoption of these solutions by: 1. Making sure that your institution is committed to having the appropriate people involved in the entire process, including nurse leaders. 2. Selecting a vendor that has the knowledge and clearly understands the importance of implementing this type of system. 3. Ensuring that your organization is selecting a system that actually meets the criteria defined by the LeapFrog Group.
