ED Management – June 1, 2019
June 1, 2019
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Poor EMR Usability Linked to Patient Safety Concerns, Clinician Burnout
Ten years after the passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, researchers are sounding the alarm about patient safety concerns related to the poor usability of electronic medical record (EMR) systems. They also are highlighting how poor usability leads to clinician burnout, which heightens the risk of medical errors. Proposals for change include a call for greater transparency so that EMR program flaws can be shared and addressed quickly.
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Examples of Poor Usability Show Where EMR Design or Implementation Can Go Wrong
Healthcare providers should find it easy to find and enter information into an electronic medical record.
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Investigators Find Connection Between Health Information Exchange Use, Shorter ED Stays
Researchers have found that health information exchange (HIE) adoption is associated with a 10.2% reduction in length of stay (LOS). Further, they reported that this reduction in LOS increases to nearly 15% in an integrated healthcare system, which has stronger incentives for using an HIE.
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Hospital Campus-Based Urgent Care Center Shares Staff, Resources With Nearby ED
The Mount Sinai Health System in New York City has opened a new urgent care center, dubbed Express Care, just 150 feet from the ED on the campus of Mount Sinai Hospital. The new center is staffed with board-certified emergency physicians and is designed to meet the unscheduled care needs of patients in the area. However, considering the proximity of the new center to the ED, it offers some unusual advantages over off-campus urgent care sites.
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Tool Helps Clinicians Determine When to Test Patients to Confirm Influenza
A new clinical decision guideline will help healthcare workers determine which patients should undergo testing to confirm whether they do have influenza or perhaps another respiratory condition that causes similar symptoms.
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When Handling Adverse Events, Experts Tout Benefits of Transparency
A small but growing number of health systems are implementing communication and resolution programs (CRP) to address adverse events that lead to patient harm. Experts note the approach involves a move away from a culture of deny and defend toward more openness and transparency with patients, families, and caregivers.