Informatics-Review > Vol. 6 No. 3 - Feb 1 2003 -- Current Reviews in Clinical Informatics 








Hospital
Heeds Doctors, Suspends Use of Software

Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center, the largest private hospital in the West, is suspending
use of a multimillion-dollar computerized system for doctors' orders
after hundreds of physicians complained that it was endangering patient
safety and required too much work. Ironically, the computer software was
designed to do the opposite: Reduce medical errors, allow doctors to
track orders electronically, and warn them about dangerous drug
interactions and redundant laboratory work.



CPOE
is tricky, but worthwhile

Is it possible
to implement CPOE and other beneficial information systems smoothly,
inexpensively and without incident? Users will embrace an application
that "makes something better and (almost) nothing worse" in other
words, one that is fast, intuitive, and supports the typical workflow
of the practice, while offering new benefits in quality of care or
financial performance. To produce such systems efficiently, commercial
system designers must have a practical understanding of the general and
the specific those elements of clinical workflow that apply more or
less universally to all health care providers (so they can be developed
once and implemented simply), and those that differ widely from one
provider to another (so they can be made customizable).



Effect of a computerized alert on the management of hypokalemia in
hospitalized patients

The study
intervention was a computerized alert consisting of a flashing screen or
printed warning for patients with serum potassium levels below 3.0
mEq/L, visible whenever an individual patient's or entire ward's results
were accessed on any hospital computer. A computerized alert system
improved the management of hypokalemia in a tertiary care hospital. This
was achieved at minimal cost and with no evidence of harm. The
computerized audit based on a laboratory information system is an
efficient tool for evaluating this intervention.



A
Two-way Messaging System to Enhance Antiretroviral Adherence

In this study of
the feasibility of an automated two-way messaging system to improve
adherence, participants received multiple short daily messages designed
to remind, educate, encourage adherence, and solicit responses
concerning side effects and self-reported adherence. Twenty-five
participants remained in the study for a median of 208 days, receiving
17,440 messages and replying to 14,677 (84%). Participants expressed
high satisfaction with the messaging system and reported that it helped
with medication adherence.



Canada Health Infoway Inc. Presentation of Business Plan

Our Mission: To
foster and accelerate the development and adoption of electronic health
information systems with compatible standards and communication
technologies on a pan-Canadian basis with tangible benefits to
Canadians. The Corporation will build on existing initiatives and
pursue collaborative relationships in pursuit of its mission.

Our Vision: A
high quality, sustainable and effective Canadian health care system
supported by a pan-Canadian infostructure that provides residents of
Canada and their health care providers timely, appropriate and secure
access to the right information when and where they enter into the
health care system. Respect for privacy is fundamental to this vision.



OREGON
PRESCRIPTION DRUG GUIDE

Welcome to your
guide to the first publicly funded, unbiased source of information
comparing the effectiveness and safety of prescription drugs.



Ten
ways to improve information technology in the NHS

Over the next
few years, the government proposes to spend several billion pounds on
information technology developments in the NHS in
England.     The NHS information technology
strategy should be aimed at supporting clinicians in their day to day
work, improving quality of care, and allowing clinicians and managers
to run services more efficiently. Key priorities should include
improving the speed and reliability of NHSnet, developing integrated
electronic health records, and making information on patients, clinical
activity, and health services more accessible. 



AHRQ's
Morbidity and Mortality Rounds

An online
journal and forum on patient safety and health care quality. This site
features expert analysis of medical errors reported anonymously by our
readers, interactive learning modules on patient safety, and forums for
online discussion.



Health
Data Monitored for Bioterror Warning

To secure early
warning of a bioterror attack, the government is building a
computerized network that will collect and analyze health data of people
in eight major cities, administration officials say.



SSM
Health Care, Receives Healthcare's First Baldrige Award

SSMHC uses Dimensional Insight's
dynamic, web-based OLAP tool, to analyze patient satisfaction survey
data, which has enabled the system to focus its efforts on those factors
that impact patient satisfaction. The tool helps SSMHC enhance quality
improvement initiatives by allowing users to view and explore data
summaries by any survey dimension (e.g. by nursing unit, date of
service, DRG, age, ethnicity, physician, etc.) 



Not
exactly what the doctor ordered: Electronic Signature?

Turns out a
high-level systems analyst set up 30 doctors with digital signatures in
their e-mail. Using what
technology? She has them sign a blank piece of paper, then scans it and
embeds the bitmap in their e-mail signature file along with their name
and phone number! 

DO NOT Try this at your institution!



Study
reports on use of "touch screen" health kiosks

The first
detailed study of the use of the screens also shows that location is
vital, with sites at docks, such as Liverpool and Dover, getting more
users a day than screens in hospitals, and supermarkets attracting more
users than health centres and pharmacies. 



Kaiser
Permanente agrees to Public Disclosure of its Clinical Guidelines

Kaiser
Permanente will post on its website the clinical guidelines developed by
its physicians. These guidelines are consulted for treatment of
conditions ranging from asthma to visual impairment.

 

Other issues from
Volume 6 -- 2001


  
    

      
      
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©  2003 The  Informatics     Review



  
    

      
      
 Informatics-Review  >  Vol. 6  No. 3  - Feb 1  2003 --  Current    Reviews in Clinical
Informatics 

      		
    

  



1/31/03 dfs