Background: When used optimally, technology should serve as a tool for clinicians, not an obstacle. Yet according to a recent study by the Mayo Clinic, Electronic Health Records (EHR) score in the bottom nineth percentile of technologies when evaluated for usability. This lack of usability can lead to increased documenting times, workflow bottlenecks, and physician burnout. Providers must divide their attention between patients and the EHR, compromising patient-physician relationships leading to dissatisfaction.
Purpose: Having the largest Emergency Department in the state, our health system is constantly searching for new ways to improve efficiency and enhance operational processes. The decision to implement MEDITECH Expanse EHR gave physicians the opportunity for an unparalleled level of mobility, and opened the door for improved ED throughput, admission and discharge processes, and more meaningful hospital patient interactions.
Description: By equipping physicians with tablets for rounding and documentation, the action empowered them to work more efficiently, unencumbered by traditional desktops. Providers no longer need to leave the bedside to quickly recall patient medical histories, access chart information, order tests or medications, discharge patient with medication reconciliation and new prescriptions, or start documentation in the EHR. Strategies in change management and physician adoption of new hospital workflow leveraging mobiity implemented and shared. Physician experiences with merging new mobiity workflow and patient care revealed ability to cut down on their administrative burdens, increase RVU, and enhance patient experience utilizing tablet as visual tool for education.
Conclusions: By implementing a more mobile approach to care, organization improved ED throughput, expedited their discharge processes, and decreased their average LOS by half a day. Over 80 percent of hospitalists are now using tablets to view charts while rounding and placing orders. Hospital plans to expand its mobility rollout to other specialties after success with ED and hospitalist physicians’ positive experience with merging EHR mobility with patient care. Preliminary data through KLAS (Healthcare IT research) Arch Collaborative using standardized surveys and benchmarking revealed providers are more satisfied with utilizing mobility with tablet technology rather than traditional desktop when using EHR. Quality patient care is delivered optimally with merging the best transformation of people, process, and technology.