Improving Outcomes in Persons Who Inject Drugs: A Multidisciplinary Healthcare Initiative

Background: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy is the standard of care for patients who require long-term antimicrobial therapy but is not considered a safe discharge option for persons who inject drugs (PWID). Many PWID leave against medical advice before completing therapy, resulting in high emergency department utilization and frequent readmissions. Local Problem: A 646-bed academic and Level I trauma center where opioid overdoses are 6.5 times higher than the state average experiences disproportionately high PWID admissions. Prolonged hospitalization for the duration of antimicrobial therapy increases costs and reduces access for other acute care patients. Methods: A prospective cohort of PWID discharged to a hospital-based clinic for supervised OPAT was compared to a similar cohort of patients admitted during the intervention period. The primary outcome was the completion of antimicrobial therapy. A two-way t-test, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine statistical significance (p \u3c 0.05) between the two groups. Interventions: A multidisciplinary team developed tools and processes to aid in the early identification and referral of PWID for treatment supported by infectious disease, addiction medicine, and other wrap-around services. Eleven patients received supervised OPAT in a hospital-based clinic. Results: Twenty-seven non-intervention and 11 intervention patients were evaluated. Nine of 11 (82%) intervention patients completed therapy. PICC lines were present in four (40%) of the intervention group. A total of 233 inpatient days were saved, with an estimated cost savings of nearly $1M. Conclusions: Supervised OPAT, supported by wrap-around services, is a safe, cost-effective alternative to prolonged hospitalizations in PWID

Advances in Teaching & Learning Day Abstracts 2004

Proceedings of the Advances in Teaching & Learning Day Regional Conference held at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2004

Adoption of Electronic Health Records by Admitting Physicians: A Heuristic Model

Background: Although hospital electronic health records (EHRs) are generally perceived to improve care, physician resistance may hinder EHR adoption. Purpose: This study uses constructs from diffusion of innovations and resource dependence theories to predict adoption and rate of adoption of an EHR by admitting physicians from three of ten hospitals in a highly integrated health system in Virginia. Functions evaluated: computerized physician order entry (CPOE), electronic history and physical (EH&P) and electronic discharge summary (EDS). The study tested hypotheses that adoption would be associated with: working at larger, academic hospitals; financial alignment; larger physician groups; office EHR; youth; males; medical specialty; high volume; hospital-based; high inpatient ratio; and high loyalty. Methods: Administrative data collected for 326 physicians admitting at least ten patients during the six months following EHR activation represented over 80% of the total admissions. Logistic Regression and Cox Regression were used to evaluate how well variables predicted adoption (80% utilization) and adoption rate. Results: The Logistic Regression model predicted significant proportions of variation in adoption of CPOE (66%), EH&P (34%) and EDS (40%). CPOE adoption was more likely (p \u3c .05) for physicians who were male, had a high inpatient ratio, lower patient volume and community hospital setting. EH&P and EDS adoption was more likely for physicians with financial alignment and large, academic hospital setting. The Cox Regression model predicted significant proportions of variation in rate of adoption of CPOE (10%), EH&P (14%) and EDS (19%). The overall model for CPOE was significant (p=.006); no individual predictors were significant. Physicians who were financially aligned or worked at the large, academic hospital adopted EH&P and EDS faster. Conclusion: Personal factors: loyalty, age and gender were generally not predictive. Organizational factors: hospital setting and financial alignment were most predictive of adoption. Study results may help administrators improve EHR installations

Do electronic health records affect the patient-psychiatrist relationship? A before & after study of psychiatric outpatients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A growing body of literature shows that patients accept the use of computers in clinical care. Nonetheless, studies have shown that computers unequivocally change both verbal and non-verbal communication style and increase patients' concerns about the privacy of their records. We found no studies which evaluated the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) specifically on psychiatric patient satisfaction, nor any that took place exclusively in a psychiatric treatment setting. Due to the special reliance on communication for psychiatric diagnosis and evaluation, and the emphasis on confidentiality of psychiatric records, the results of previous studies may not apply equally to psychiatric patients.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>We examined the association between EHR use and changes to the patient-psychiatrist relationship. A patient satisfaction survey was administered to psychiatric patient volunteers prior to and following implementation of an EHR. All subjects were adult outpatients with chronic mental illness.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Survey responses were grouped into categories of "Overall," "Technical," "Interpersonal," "Communication & Education,," "Time," "Confidentiality," "Anxiety," and "Computer Use." Multiple, unpaired, two-tailed t-tests comparing pre- and post-implementation groups showed no significant differences (at the 0.05 level) to any questionnaire category for all subjects combined or when subjects were stratified by primary diagnosis category.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While many barriers to the adoption of electronic health records do exist, concerns about disruption to the patient-psychiatrist relationship need not be a prominent focus. Attention to communication style, interpersonal manner, and computer proficiency may help maintain the quality of the patient-psychiatrist relationship following EHR implementation.</p

Comparison of user groups' perspectives of barriers and facilitators to implementing electronic health records: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Electronic health record (EHR) implementation is currently underway in Canada, as in many other countries. These ambitious projects involve many stakeholders with unique perceptions of the implementation process. EHR users have an important role to play as they must integrate the EHR system into their work environments and use it in their everyday activities. Users hold valuable, first-hand knowledge of what can limit or contribute to the success of EHR implementation projects. A comprehensive synthesis of EHR users' perceptions is key to successful future implementation. This systematic literature review was aimed to synthesize current knowledge of the barriers and facilitators influencing shared EHR implementation among its various users.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Covering a period from 1999 to 2009, a literature search was conducted on nine electronic databases. Studies were included if they reported on users' perceived barriers and facilitators to shared EHR implementation, in healthcare settings comparable to Canada. Studies in all languages with an empirical study design were included. Quality and relevance of the studies were assessed. Four EHR user groups were targeted: physicians, other health care professionals, managers, and patients/public. Content analysis was performed independently by two authors using a validated extraction grid with pre-established categorization of barriers and facilitators for each group of EHR users.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of a total of 5,695 potentially relevant publications identified, 117 full text publications were obtained after screening titles and abstracts. After review of the full articles, 60 publications, corresponding to 52 studies, met the inclusion criteria. The most frequent adoption factors common to all user groups were design and technical concerns, ease of use, interoperability, privacy and security, costs, productivity, familiarity and ability with EHR, motivation to use EHR, patient and health professional interaction, and lack of time and workload. Each user group also identified factors specific to their professional and individual priorities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This systematic review presents innovative research on the barriers and facilitators to EHR implementation. While important similarities between user groups are highlighted, differences between them demonstrate that each user group also has a unique perspective of the implementation process that should be taken into account.</p

THE IMPACT OF HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON FAMILY PHYSICIAN’S PRACTICE PATTERNS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY USING DATA FROM THE 2007 NATIONAL PHYSICIAN SURVEY

Objective: To evaluate the impact of health information technology on primary care physicians in Canada by the number of medical services and clinical procedures they offer, total direct patient care hours provided, and visit duration. Methods: We used nationally representative data from the 2007 National Physician Survey to examine the extent of Health Information Technology (HIT count and HIT type) on the scope of practice, total direct patient care hours, and length of office visits among family physicians/general practitioners. HIT count is defined as the number of HIT the physician uses and HIT type is categorical variable based on its features. Negative binomial regression models were used to assess the number of medical services and clinical procedures offered. Linear regression models were used to assess the total direct patient care hours and visit duration. Results: Multivariate analyses show a significant increase in the expected mean number of medical services offered, clinical procedures offered, direct patient care hours, and visit duration with each additional HIT the physician uses in his/her practice. The greatest positive impact was found among physicians who uses EMR-Plus HIT for medical services (8.8 percent, p\u3c0.01) and clinical procedures (8.7 percent, p\u3c0.01) when compared to non-HIT users. Physicians were found to increase their time spent per patient visit who use EMR HIT by 7.8 percent (p\u3c0.05) and EMR-Plus HIT by 6.8 percent (p\u3c0.01) when compared to non-HIT users. No significant association was found between the different HIT types physician uses and total direct patient care hours. Conclusion: The use of health information technology is found to be associated with an increase of medical services and clinical procedures offered, and duration of visit. Limited impact of HIT was found to be associated with total direct patient care hours. Further investigation of what components in HIT affects the workflow of family physicians is needed. Overall, careful consideration needs to be taken when investing and implementing HIT in Canada because there may be unintended consequences

Study protocol: The Adherence and Intensification of Medications (AIM) study - a cluster randomized controlled effectiveness study

Abstract Background Many patients with diabetes have poor blood pressure (BP) control. Pharmacological therapy is the cornerstone of effective BP treatment, yet there are high rates both of poor medication adherence and failure to intensify medications. Successful medication management requires an effective partnership between providers who initiate and increase doses of effective medications and patients who adhere to the regimen. Methods In this cluster-randomized controlled effectiveness study, primary care teams within sites were randomized to a program led by a clinical pharmacist trained in motivational interviewing-based behavioral counseling approaches and authorized to make BP medication changes or to usual care. This study involved the collection of data during a 14-month intervention period in three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and two Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities. The clinical pharmacist was supported by clinical information systems that enabled proactive identification of, and outreach to, eligible patients identified on the basis of poor BP control and either medication refill gaps or lack of recent medication intensification. The primary outcome is the relative change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements over time. Secondary outcomes are changes in Hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), medication adherence determined from pharmacy refill data, and medication intensification rates. Discussion Integration of the three intervention elements - proactive identification, adherence counseling and medication intensification - is essential to achieve optimal levels of control for high-risk patients. Testing the effectiveness of this intervention at the team level allows us to study the program as it would typically be implemented within a clinic setting, including how it integrates with other elements of care. Trial Registration The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT00495794.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/1/1745-6215-11-95.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/2/1745-6215-11-95.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/3/1745-6215-11-95-S1.DOCPeer Reviewe

Prevalence and factors affecting home blood pressure documentation in routine clinical care: a retrospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Home blood pressure (BP) is closely linked to patient outcomes. However, the prevalence of its documentation has not been examined. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and factors affecting documentation of home BP in routine clinical care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective study of 142,973 encounters of 9,840 hypertensive patients with diabetes from 2000 to 2005 was performed. The prevalence of recorded home BP and the factors associated with its documentation were analyzed. We assessed validity of home BP information by comparing the difference between home and office BP to previously published prospective studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Home BP was documented in narrative notes for 2.08% of encounters where any blood pressure was recorded and negligibly in structured data (EMR flowsheets). Systolic and diastolic home BP in narrative notes were lower than office BP readings by 9.6 and 2.5 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.0001 for both), consistent with prospective data. Probability of home BP documentation increased by 23.0% for each 10 mm Hg of office systolic BP (p < 0.0001), by 6.2% for each $10,000 in median income of zip code (p = 0.0055), and by 17.7% for each decade in the patient's age (p < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Home BP readings provide a valid representation of the patient's condition, yet are seldom documented despite their potential utility in both patient care and research. Strong association between higher patient income and home BP documentation suggests that the cost of the monitors may be a limiting factor; reimbursement of home BP monitoring expenses should be pursued.</p

Promoting sustainability in quality improvement: an evaluation of a web-based continuing education program in blood pressure measurement.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of blood pressure measurement is variable in office-based settings. Even when staff training programs are effective, knowledge and skills decay over time, supporting the need for ongoing staff training. We evaluated whether a web-based continuing education program in blood pressure measurement reinforced knowledge and skills among clinical staff and promoted sustainability of an existing quality improvement program. METHODS: Medical assistants and nurses at six primary care clinics within a health system enrolled in a 30-min online educational program designed to refresh their knowledge of blood pressure measurement. A 20-question pre- and post-intervention survey addressed learners\u27 knowledge and attitudes. Direct observation of blood pressure measurement technique before and after the intervention was performed. Differences in responses to pre- and post-module knowledge and attitudes questions and in observation data were analyzed using chi-square tests and simple logistic regression. RESULTS: All 88 clinical staff members participated in the program and completed the evaluation survey. Participants answered 80.6% of questions correctly before the module and 93.4% afterwards (p \u3c 0.01). Scores improved significantly among staff from all job types. Licensed practical nurses and staff who had been in their current job at least a year were more likely to answer questions correctly than registered nurses and those in their current job less than a year. Attitudes toward correct blood pressure measurement were high at baseline and did not improve significantly. Prior to the intervention, staff adhered to 9 of 18 elements of the recommended technique during at least 90% of observations. Following the program, staff was more likely to explain the protocol, provide a rest period, measure an average blood pressure, and record the average blood pressure, but less likely to measure blood pressure with the arm at heart level and use the right arm. CONCLUSIONS: We designed, implemented, and evaluated a web-based educational program to improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes in blood pressure measurement and use of an automated device among nurses and medical assistants in ambulatory care. The program reinforced knowledge related to recommended blood pressure measurement technique. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered with ClincalTrials.gov on March 22, 2012; registration number NCT01566864