Studies in health technology and informatics
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2013
Review Meta AnalysisA review of healthcare information system usability & safety.
Healthcare information systems have been designed to increase the efficiency and safety of healthcare processes. Systems such as electronic health records and pervasive computing devices have been shown to improve the safety of healthcare. However, increasing research has indicated that the design of such systems, in particular the user interface, may be related to increased incidence of other types of error. ⋯ New technology, such as CPOE, offers improvements over traditional paper tools and it is shown to have a positive effect on patient safety. New technology also creates the opportunity for new errors to occur and lead to the coining of the term "technology-induced error". The magnitude of the usability-testing needs is larger than it may seem.
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Apps running on mobile devices are continually gaining importance, for medical professionals as well as for patients. When used appropriately, they can support their users, have the potential to increase efficiency and to lower costs. However, the information available for "medical apps" that are currently being distributed in the official mobile app stores of different mobile platforms often rather raises than answers questions regarding important aspects such as functionality, limits, data integrity, security and privacy. In this paper, we analyze the current situation, including a basic overview over current reporting and regulatory mechanisms and propose the use of an app-synopsis as step in direction of transparency.
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Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly being used in health care systems, hospitals, and clinics throughout North America. Over the past several years emergency departments (ED) have increasingly become more computerized. ⋯ In this paper we outline the current state of the research in using mobile devices in the ED. Our findings suggest there is very little research evidence that supports the use of mobile devices in the ED and more research is needed to better understand and optimize their use.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2013
Multicenter StudyExamination of changes in pathology tests ordered by Diagnosis-Related Group (DRGs) following CPOE introduction.
Electronic test ordering, via the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), which incorporates computerised provider order entry (CPOE), is widely considered as a useful tool to support appropriate pathology test ordering. Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) are clinically meaningful categories that allow comparisons in pathology utilisation by patient groups by controlling for many potentially confounding variables. This study used DRG data linked to pathology test data to examine changes in rates of test ordering across four years coinciding with the introduction of an EMR in six hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. ⋯ We investigated patients with a Chest pain DRG to examine whether tests rates changed for specific test groups by hospital emergency department (ED) pre- and post-EMR. There was little change in testing rates between EDs or between time periods pre- and post-EMR. This is a valuable method for monitoring the impact of EMR and clinical decision support on test order rates.
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Stud Health Technol Inform · Jan 2013
Controlled Clinical TrialEndotracheal intubation with a traditional videolaryngoscope blade versus an integrated suction blade in a hemorrhagic airway cadaver model.
Lightly embalmed hemorrhagic cadaver models and the Storz CMAC videolaryngoscope fitted with either an integrated suction blade vs. a traditional blade were used to determine efficacy of the instruments in hemorrhagic airway intubation. Significant differences were found between the devices in intubation success rates of the viscosity saliva and frothy blood models, as well as a significant difference in intubation times in the frothy blood model. Feedback provided by the study participants indicated preference for the integrated video suction blade in hemorrhagic airway intubation.