The Use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) To Improve Safety of Patients Diagnosed with Rheumatism

Answer

The Use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) To Improve Safety of Patients Diagnosed with Rheumatism

Nurse informaticists as well as other leaders in healthcare rely on technology trends and research consultation to establish the most effective clinical systems that can be used to improve efficiency in their organizations. The aim of such research is to get sufficient evidence to support a positive impact of the clinical systems and their overall efficiency. One of the clinical systems that has been extensively researched is electronic health records (EHRs). This paper provides a synthesis of five peer-reviewed articles on EHR in terms of how the clinical system improves patient outcomes, its efficiency, and lessons learned from applying the clinical system.

Schmajuk, G., & Yazdany, J. (2017). Leveraging the electronic health record to improve quality and safety in rheumatology. Rheumatology international, 37(10), 1603-1610. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-017-3804-4

The aim of this study by Schmajuk and Yazdany (2017) was to establish the manner in which EHRs can be leveraged to improve both the aspects of safety and quality for patients in rheumatology. After a review of literature, the findings of the study were that EHR infrastructures can be used in capturing the outcomes of patients and also in the development of automated methods for the retrieval of information. The study has demonstrated that EHR can improve the outcomes of healthcare quality and patient safety. For example, when EHR is used in capturing key data elements such as vital signs and lab results, nurses can then be able to provide quality care and ultimately, ensure the safety of the patients (Schmajuk & Yazdany, 2017). In terms of efficiencies, EHR is effective in ensuring better outcomes for the patients. Also, with proper health information being retrieved, the safety of the patients is ensured. The study’s findings have demonstrated that the efficiency of EHR is very high in rheumatology because information is properly captured and retrieved when needed. From the application of EHR in rheumatology, one of the lessons learned is that the clinical system can inform decisions about patients because information is readily available for retrieval. For example, the rate of inflammation will be better understood with the information in EHR and effective interventions will be used to address the inflammation in rheumatology.

Gandrup, J., & Yazdany, J. (2019). Using health information technology to support use of patient-reported outcomes in rheumatology. Rheumatic Disease Clinics, 45(2), 257-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rdc.2019.01.007

In this study, Gandrup and Yazdany (2019) sought to review literature on the experiences of different organizations and health systems about the use of EHR in the collection and evaluation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Specifically, the study involved a structured review of different electronic collection strategies in the United States and in Denmark. The findings of the study were that there was both patient and provider satisfaction with the use of EHR in the collection of patient reported outcomes (Gandrup & Yazdany, 2019). Also, the use of EHR was found to lead to improvements in patient outcomes in rheumatology. These results indicate that EHRs lead to improvement of patient reported outcomes of quality and safety. Additionally, it improves the outcomes of patient satisfaction and physician satisfaction. The clinical system is efficient in ensuring that reduced errors are reported and hence, increased patient safety. For example, with the use of EHR, it is easier to decide which medications to give to the patient and hence, a reduction in medication errors. From the application of EHR in the aspects of the study, I have learned that the clinical system is an indispensable infrastructure in rheumatology because it allows for retrieval of patient information and hence, a reduction in medication errors and ultimately, improved patient safety and satisfaction.

Yazdany, J., Bansback, N., Clowse, M., Collier, D., Law, K., Liao, K. P., ... & Reimold, A. (2016). Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness: a national informatics‐enabled registry for quality improvement. Arthritis care & research, 68(12), 1866-1873. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23089

The primary objective of the study by Yazdany, Bansback, Clowse, Collier, Law, Liao and Reimold (2016) was to report on how the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) could use EHR to improve the quality of care for patients. The authors analyzed data from RISE in the period between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. The aim here was to characterize the initial practices as well as the patients who had been captured in RISE. Also, an analysis of the use of medication among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and performance on different quality measures was done. The results of the study were that RISE’s EHR infrastructure provides a vital framework that can be used in the improvement of the quality of care for patients in rheumatology and is also a unique source of data that can be relied upon to generate new knowledge (Yazdany et al., 2016). The improvement outcomes that arises from the research include better quality of care services for patients in rheumatology and also the generation of new knowledge that can lead to better interventions. It has been proven; from the study, that EHR is highly efficient. For example, when used in RISE, it is effective in making sure that the quality of services provided to the patients are improved. One of the lessons I have learned from the application of the clinical system in this peer-reviewed article is the EHR infrastructure should be well structured to make sure that its results are efficient in the attainment of the objectives.

Richter, J. G., Chehab, G., & Schneider, M. (2016). Electronic health records in rheumatology: emphasis on automated scoring and additional use. Clin Exp Rheumatol, 34(Suppl 101), S62-8. https://www.clinexprheumatol.org/article.asp?a=11137

The aim of this article by Richter, Chehab, and Schneider (2016) is to provide opportunities for better patient care that emanate from the use of EHR in creating new process flows for health care in rheumatology.  The authors derived their data form a variety of sources including electronic health reports, patient-centered researches, registries and other secondary sources. One of the key results from the study is that EHR allows for the modern real-time monitoring of patient care because high quality standards are used, which facilitate patients to participate in their process of healthcare (Richter, Chehab, & Schneider, 2016). Additionally, EHRs ensures that patient documentation systems are efficient, which leads to frequent and continuous retrieval of vital patient information and ultimately, better patient care. Some of the outcomes improved from the use of EHRs; based on this article, include patient documentation and information retrieval, healthcare quality, and the general rheumatology health care. The efficiencies of EHRs are witnessed in the provision of health care services to the patients. For example, with the use of EHRs in rheumatology, it becomes easier to document patient data and involve patients in the care process. Also, it vital in ensuring that any vital information concerning the patients is captured and used to create new knowledge about how care for patient with arthritis can be effectively approached. From the article’s results, one of the lessons I have gained is that EHRs can be integrated into existing documentation system to provide a structured method for the storage and retrieval of patient data.

Barnado, A., Casey, C., Carroll, R. J., Wheless, L., Denny, J. C., & Crofford, L. J. (2017). Developing electronic health record algorithms that accurately identify patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis care & research, 69(5), 687-693. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.22989

The purpose of this research by Barnado et al. (2017) was to study systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the electronic health record (EHR). Specifically, via the use of Vanderbilt’s Synthetic Derivative, the researchers sought to develop an electronic health record algorithm that could be used in the identification of patients with SLE. After the development and validation of three novel algorithms that could be used in the identification of patients with SLE from multiple classes of data in the EHR, the authors established that such algorithms could be used to single out the risk of SLE from EHR data (Barnado et al., 2017). The finding of the study demonstrated how EHGR could be used in the improvement of different clinical outcomes such as care outcomes among others. The results proved that the three algorithms are efficient in ensuring that patients with SLE are identified and appropriate interventions taken to make sure that they are given the right care. One of the lessons that I have gained from this study is that EHR data is vital not only for establishing the underlying issues of patients in rheumatology, but also identifying different diagnosis. I have also learned that EHR data could be used in a plethora of ways for the attainment of the goals of better patient care and patient safety.