Linda J Roger’s article, “Automated Oncology,” reports Lifebridge Health Corporation’s switch from paper to digital information in their hospitals. Rogers explains reasons for the change, the process of conversion as well as its results. She talks specifically about the new systems affects within the oncology departments of Sinai and Northwest hospitals. In addition to the management of these two hospitals this local Baltimore company also own two nursing and rehabilitation centers, and one health and fitness club.
Rogers describes the issues that arose making the switch to computerization an imperative change. The company at the time was looking at an expansion because of an influx of patients all with different information, diagnoses, and treatment plans. The company needed faster and more efficient way to keep track of each patient’s record. In addition the company wanted to set up a system in which they could interconnect their different locations making easy to transfer information without the use of paper means such as letters or faxes. Another major factor the company was interested in is universalizing the information for different employees such as nurses, pharmacists and physicians. Allowing access to records by the different parties and allowing them to make updates easily as they occur was an important aspect of the quick pace care that the company not only wanted but that was central to this specific field of study. Oncology, “the branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of tumors,” as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is a very fast paced as well as intensive field within the medical world. Because when dealing with cancer most decisions and updates are generally all of great significance it is necessary that the information is readily available for those who need it as soon as it is released, or learned.
The company needed a way to present the material clearly for all parties involved, at the time when it comes out, and without mistakes. They needed to computerize their records and means of communication. Lastly they needed to be able to track their patients from hospital to hospital, their treatments, their visits, and their current health. The solution that they decided to go with was called CPOE a technological system that was oncology-specific. The Computerized physician/provider order entry (CPOE) is medical management software developed by the Physician Order Entry Team (POET) at Oregon Health & Science University.
The shift at first was a slow process and took some convincing for certain team members but once it was implemented it was found to make the company’s record system much easier. CPOE because of its specific design brought positive results to the entire company.
This article was an excellent example of how information systems can change the way a company works to make it more efficient. This article ran parallel to our classes’ current studies on changing ones outlook on information and finding simpler ways to provide it for study. It followed Thomas Friedman’s lecture on making the world flat through a paperless world. I found this article to be interesting because it was a local example. The company being based in Baltimore made it relatable to what I am currently studying and put a visual aspect to my research.
Automated oncology Rogers, L.J. Health Management Technology Feb. 2009, vol.30, no.2, pp. 22-3. ISSN: 0745-1075 (print), CODEN: HMTEE2 Publisher: Nelson Publishing Inc. Country of Publication: USA
http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/jewish.cfm
http://dictionary.oed.com/
http://www.cpoe.org/
A faster and more efficient way to track patient records could never do any harm to the medical industry. I do not question the power of these databases, or the information they posses. My only problem with this project is the fact that in order for the information to be transfered from paper to a database, it would need to be manually entered or transfered. This takes alot of time, and uses alot of resources. friends of mine worked at the Cleveland Clinic this summer entering patient records into a database. the information they entered was from 1999. The clinic was ten years behind in entering their data. Speed is a significant factor when dealing with tumors, but if these medical records are backed up, and I am just assuming they are because the Cleveland Clinic is one of the top five hospitals in the nation, tracking will be difficult. There will never be an end to the data that needs to be entered.
ReplyDeleteI was actually reading a similar blog earlier on hospitals becoming more digitized, so I will probably have to say I am really happy to see that companies are doing this now especially in the health care field where every opinion, option, and every piece of information is vital to the patient and the doctor, more so when it comes to oncologists and their patients. Cancer is a horrible thing to live with, and the treatments we all know and hear about are sometimes worse than the disease, and with all the new treatments coming out along with even more patients being diagnosed, the knowledge that can be reached at any moment is needed. Doctors can save lives and do their job to the best of their ability, and for the rest of us it can give us all a little peace of mind that we will be a little safer due to the advancement of technology.
ReplyDeleteSomething interesting I thought of while reading this critique was records being stored in a database being beneficial in the instance of a fire. I also considered the labor, time and money that it would cost to pysically transfer all of the data from papertrail to e-records. I think in the long run, the time and effort spent on this initiative will pay off greatly. Although errors can be made while transferring this information, once it is in, it can be altered and stored correctly and permanently and be easily accessed. This will ultimately save time and possibly lives.
ReplyDeleteIn response to transferring patient information, there is another option besides physically entering the data. Over the summer, I worked at an orthopedic surgeon's office that was in the process of remodeling the surgical center. In order to take advantage of technology advancements, the office converted to the use of e-records by scanning older charts directly into a database. By actually being part of the process, I was able to see the inefficiency of paper. With paper, there is a greater chance of error and the ability to change information. Online charts were easier to access, store and transfer between medical centers. In addition, I even saw patients that brought digital scans as opposed to the actual films. This shows the level to which the medical industry is becoming digitalized and the convenience and efficiency it brings to a hospital or practice. Like employees in this article, some nurses at the office were uncomfortable with the digital transformation, however, the change is inevitable. Although the process is tedious, the benefits are endless. Like all personal information stored online, it is necessary that the data is highly protected and secured.
ReplyDeleteI read a similar article regarding new database systems in hospitals. I think it is an extremely beneficial idea to switch from paper to computer patient records. It's easier to access and transfer data to different places. It it also clearer to read and organize. I would like to know how, exactly, they plan on inputting the data into the system. Manually always leaves room for human error and electronically scanning can be flawed as well. Besides errors on patient records, I am also concerned about the security with the system. Personal information must be protected on various levels and I'm interested in the security system that is used for this particular database.
ReplyDelete