Week 5: EHR III

Question 1

What does interoperability require?

Answer 1

shared and agreed-upon standards

Question 2

What are the key concepts of interoperability? (2)

Answer 2

• language: syntax, semantics
• data standards

Question 3

What is syntax?

Answer 3

language format rules

• segments identify type of information that appears in message
• composites/fields contain information related to patient encounter or event
• ie. health level 7 (HL7)

Question 4

What are semantics?

Answer 4

meaning/interpretation of language

• ie. ICD9, Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine: Clinical Terminology (SNOMED-CT)

Question 5

What are transport standards?

Answer 5

standards of communication between multiple systems

Question 6

What are content standards?

Answer 6

standards for how the data being transported is packaged

• ie. HL7

Question 7

What is one advantage of SNOMED over ICD9?

Answer 7

–

Question 8

What is taken into account when choosing an EHR system?

Answer 8

• EHR implementation fails are expensive
• focus on who will use the system and how – ie. are there ‘power users,’ people with low digital health literacy, etc.

Question 9

What are some common myths/problems when choosing an EHR system?

Answer 9

• new EHR will fix all of your current problems
• mobile platforms are the best
• EHRs will eliminate errors
• I don’t need training, how hard can it be?
• not including other clinicians in the planning and implementation
• thinking one person can still use paper-based while everyone else transitions to EHR

Question 10

What is one example of how technology can enable and inhibit collaborative practice and how does this apply to software design?

Answer 10

collaborative practice is enabled by technology:

• asynchronous use of ‘e-visits’
• easy access to other clinicians (ie. via chat)
• different professions will use EHR differently, access different modules

Question 11

How can EHR help or enhance administrative functions for pharmacy?

Answer 11

• scheduling appointments
• faxes to pharmacies
• phone call reminders
• organizing files and digitizing records
• enabling new workflows – ie. pharmacy using case-management approach to care
• automated email reminders of appointments or refills due
• appointment cancellation and rebooking online
• clinician work schedule online
• allow patients to update their extended health information online
• allow patients to get price quotes or to see if their drug would be covered

Question 12

How do corporations increase automation of simple tasks?

Answer 12

usually with workarounds or other 3rd party apps seamlessly integrated