Scenario: You are a health information professional working for Dr. Heath in his private practice. Dr. Heath has a large practice with several ancillary services attached. He and his partner see 50 patients a day in the practice, many of whom receive on-site diagnostic procedures. The diagnostic areas that Dr. Heath has are x-ray, electrocardiography, and laboratory.
- He is concerned because a number of patients have complained that in each area of care, the health personnel seem to ask the same questions.
- The redundancy is annoying.
- He is considering computerizing his data collection to streamline the data collection process.
- Before he does, he wants to make sure that he understands the clinical flow of data in the facility.
Dr. Heath seeks your advice and assistance in resolving his problem. Write a 2-paragraph summary for each of the questions below. In total, your assignment should have 4 paragraphs (2 for each question).
- What do you recommend?
- .How would you go about implementing your recommendation?
- . Make sure your recommendations address those items in the scenario (1-4)
illustrates the concept that a patient has one medical record number but may have many account numbers, which are linked through the Master Patient Index.
- Why wouldn’t we just include all of the patient accounts in the Master Patient Index?
create a computer order entry screen for the physician.
- What specific elements will your form contain?
- Will you utilize drop down menus? If so, for what information?
- What data validity checks will be possible? (identify specific documentation items will require validity checks)
- What physician satisfaction issues might arise from the implementation of your computerized order form?
- Any equipment specifics you can identify for physician use? Location and type?
Search the CMS web site and review the MDS 3.0 for long term care.
- Why is the MDS different from UHDDS?
- Why is so much more data required?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a healthcare information professional, the needs and concerns of medical practitioners are of utmost importance for smooth data flow within a facility. In the following assignment, we will be addressing the concerns of Dr. Heath, who is seeking to streamline the data collection process within his facility while understanding the clinical flow of data.
Question 1: What do you recommend?
To address Dr. Heath’s concerns, we recommend implementing a uniform data collection system across all three diagnostic areas. This can be achieved by creating standard questionnaires to be used by all health personnel in each area of care. By having a standardized questionnaire, there will be uniformity across all diagnostic areas, avoiding redundancy and annoyance for patients. Additionally, this will aid in streamlining data collection across the facility.
Question 2: How would you go about implementing your recommendation?
To implement the recommendation mentioned above, we recommend creating a medical informatics team. The team will be responsible for developing standardized questionnaires and training health personnel across all diagnostic areas. The team will also be responsible for monitoring the system and providing frequent feedback to health personnel, ensuring compliance and efficiency across the facility.
Question 3: Why wouldn’t we just include all of the patient accounts in the Master Patient Index?
Including all patient accounts in the Master Patient Index may lead to confusion and data overload. The Index is intended to link patient accounts for accuracy and efficacy, and including all accounts may lead to multiple, irrelevant entries. Furthermore, having a separate Index for each patient account helps with confidentiality and may allow for easier tracking of billing and insurance claims.
Question 4: What specific elements will your form contain?
The computer order entry screen for physicians will contain patient demographics, a list of available diagnostic tests, test ordering options, and a review of test results. The form will include drop-down menus for selecting diagnostic tests and will be available for data validation checks. The system will also capture patient allergies and current medications to ensure the safety of the patient.
Question 5: What physician satisfaction issues might arise from the implementation of your computerized order form?
Physicians may experience dissatisfaction with the new system due to the effort required in learning and adjusting to it. Additionally, there may be frustration with technical errors and limitations of the system, which may lead to longer work hours and more paperwork. It is important to provide thorough training and support to physicians to ensure their satisfaction with the new system.
Question 6: Any equipment specifics you can identify for physician use? Location and type?
For the computerized order entry screen, we recommend desktop computers, laptops, or tablets located in the examination rooms for the convenience of physicians. These devices should have easy access to secure Wi-Fi networks to ensure that patient data is protected. It is also important to regularly update the software to prevent technical problems and provide physicians with the best possible experience.
