Standardize workflows by condition
While flexibility is essential, providers often use standardized information sets to manage the most common conditions they treat, such as diabetes. Within the EHR, however, context-building data is often scattered, making it difficult for clinicians to identify trends to drive their decision-making. These conditions also frequently have common orders that need to be entered, requiring the physician to perform repetitive data entry throughout the day.

An embedded optimization application can standardize the workflow for such chronic conditions while offering opportunities for customization. Data can be organized and visually presented so that providers can quickly assess trends and glean the insights needed to deliver evidence-based care while advance order sets reduce data entry. Embedding the technology within the EHR saves care teams from redundant typing, searching for data, and toggling between screens.

Following such protocols is backed by research. The University of Washington, for example, implemented a standardized handoff process called IPASS, which was supported by an EHR-integrated application, and found it reduced communication errors by a significant 3% while 73% of clinicians reported that the process improved team communication and patient safety. A separate randomized, crossover study published in Academic Medicine found residents who utilized standardized and integrated rounding and sign-out software reported fewer medical errors and adverse drug events than the control group, who used the EHR and separate lists. The rounding and sign-out application also alleviated residents from 30 to 45 minutes per day of menial copying and recopying patient information onto rounding lists, progress notes, and sign-out sheets without risking patient safety.

Mobile care requires mobile data
Clinical teams aren’t stationary, and it can impede workflows to search for an open computer workstation, log in, and then access patient information or respond to a secure text message from a colleague. In addition, most EHRs were not designed at a time when there was near-universal adoption of smartphones among clinicians. This resulted in vendors playing catch-up to deliver apps that often contained the same usability challenges as their desktop counterparts.

EHR optimization technology has addressed this mobile demand by offering companion smartphone and tablet apps that are intuitively designed for clinicians’ workflows, delivering specialty-customized data and functions they need during rounds, in meetings, away from the office, or elsewhere. Providers can access clinical data, including medications, labs, vitals, allergies, I&O, TLD, notes, cultures, radiology and others specifically organized for their specialty. From mobile, they can also perform important functions such as updating the assessment and plan, managing their patient list and signing out of on-call coverage, which ensures the right provider is contacted by the on-shift clinicians at the hospital.

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