Document Detail


Adoption of information technology in Massachusetts emergency departments.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19232877     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Information technology improves outcomes (e.g., by reducing error), and universal implementation of electronic medical records throughout the United States is a national goal. Prior studies have shown low rates of implementation.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the current state of acquisition and implementation of information technology tools in Massachusetts emergency departments (EDs).
METHODS: This was part of a larger survey that sought to describe various attributes of all non-federal Massachusetts EDs. We asked about implementation of technologies listed below, and report proportions (95% confidence intervals) and medians (interquartile ranges). We compare responding to non-responding EDs to guard against response bias.
RESULTS: We identified and surveyed 74 non-federal EDs; 61 (82%) responded. Of these, the following number (%) reported full implementation of the following technologies: medication ordering, 9 (15%); medication error checking, 7 (11%); current visit information (e.g., chief complaint), 25 (41%); computerized management recommendations based on clinical decision rules, 6 (10%); electronic laboratory results, 55 (90%); computerized clinical reminders, 10 (17%); tracking information, 31 (51%); hospital discharge summaries, 50 (82%); current outpatient medications, 15 (25%); ED visit notes, 30 (49%); radiographic images from a prior visit, 39 (64%); old electrocardiograms, 33 (54%); and computer system to collect real-time clinical data, 23 (38%).
CONCLUSION: Massachusetts EDs have been slow to adopt evidence-based information technologies. A collaborative approach to determining the best available technologies and their implementation would decrease duplication of effort, frustration, and financial waste (due to non-implementation of acquired systems), and would facilitate inter-operability of ED computer systems.
Authors:
Daniel J Pallin; Ashley F Sullivan; Bruce S Auerbach; Carlos A Camargo
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2009-02-20
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of emergency medicine     Volume:  39     ISSN:  0736-4679     ISO Abbreviation:  J Emerg Med     Publication Date:  2010 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-09     Completed Date:  2010-11-29     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8412174     Medline TA:  J Emerg Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  240-4     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Data Collection
Decision Support Systems, Clinical / utilization*
Electronic Health Records / utilization*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Humans
Massachusetts
Medical Order Entry Systems / utilization*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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