Information Technology in the Clinical Setting Flashcards
HIT in the US
An electronic health record (EHR) is a system that captures, processes, communicates, secures, and presents data about a patient
Integration of information from multiple sources
Serves as a primary source of information for patient care and quality thus it is a knowledge tool
Decision Support and CPOE
Two specific functionalities essential for improving the quality and safety of health care
Clinical Decision Support
automatic reminders about preventive practices
drug alerts for dosing and interactions
electronic resources for data interpretation and clinical decision making
Computerized Provider Order Entry (COPE)
- Clinician with order writing authority sits at a computer to directly enter patient care orders
- Eliminates lost orders and illegible handwriting
- Prevents medical error
- Improved communication and readily accessible knowledge
- Requires key information (e.g., drug dose)
- Calculation assistance
- Checks performed in real time
Assistance with medication monitoring
Decision support
Rapid response and tracking of adverse events
Opportunities to EHR
o Financial incentives from the federal government to promote adoption
o Quality care, safety, and efficiency
o Continuity of care
Barriers to EHR
o Meeting guidelines is strenuous and costly
o Lack of interoperability
o Corporate competition
o EHR implementation cost
Benefits of Point of Care Testing
- Quality Assurance
- Speed
- Portability
- Convenience
- Sample Quality
- Connectivity
- Decreased laboratories workload
Telehealth
• Telecommunications technology to assess, diagnose, and, in some cases, treat via telephone, computers, interactive videos, and teleconferencing
Telehome care devices
- Automated bp monitors
- Glucometers
- Peak flowmeters
- Pulse ox
- wt scales
- Video monitors
