In a recent publication in the Annals of Family Medicine, the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine revealed significant improvements in departmental productivity through electronic health record (EHR) optimisation. This research, which emphasises the crucial role of cooperative efforts among clinicians and IT specialists, found that such collaboration can greatly enhance the utility of EHR systems, now widely implemented across healthcare settings.

The initiative, led by a healthcare team within a family medicine department, embarked on a focused four-month EHR optimisation effort with IT experts. This project stood out from previous endeavours, which often concentrated on broad institutional achievements, by zeroing in on the refinement of EHR interface development and its impact on clinical workflow.

Adam M. Franks, M.D., interim chair of family and community health at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the study’s lead researcher, shared his insights on the prevailing challenges: “There has been a persistent gap between EHR developers and end-users, leading to interfaces that often overlook the nuances of clinical workflows. Our study was designed to address this issue and highlight the concrete benefits of cooperative optimisation initiatives.”

The research methodology incorporated a comprehensive quality improvement process that involved clinicians and clinical staff at various levels. The optimisation was categorised into four types: accommodations (departmental adjustments to align with EHR workflows), creations (new workflows designed by IT), discoveries (identification of previously unnoticed workflows within the EHR), and modifications (IT-made adjustments to existing workflows).

The study results were quite promising, showing substantial boosts in productivity metrics: Monthly charges increased from 0.74 to 1.28, and payments rose from 0.83 to 1.58. Although the increase in monthly visit ratios from 0.65 to 0.98 was observed, it did not reach statistical significance.

One of the study’s significant revelations was that many solutions to usability issues were already present within the EHR system itself, suggesting that a deeper exploration and understanding of existing workflows are essential. Moreover, the findings regarding accommodation optimisations highlighted the importance of better pre-implementation collaboration between EHR developers and end-users, pointing towards the potential for more user-friendly design approaches.

“Our research not only proves the effectiveness of departmental collaboration with IT in optimising EHR but also stresses the importance of meticulous workflow analysis to boost productivity,” explained Dr. Franks.

This study offers invaluable insights for healthcare organisations striving to fully leverage their EHR systems. Its broader implications include enhancing patient care, operational efficiency, and overall organisational performance.

More information: Adam M. Franks et al, Optimization of Electronic Health Record Usability Through a Department-Led Quality Improvement Process, The Annals of Family Medicine. DOI: 10.1370/afm.3073

Journal information: The Annals of Family Medicine Provided by Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine