National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
51 to 75 of 147 Research Studies DisplayedAbraham J, Galanter WL, Touchette D
Risk factors associated with medication ordering errors.
This study’s goal was to collect data on “voided” orders in computerized order entry systems for medication to 1) identify the nature and characteristics of medication ordering errors; 2) investigate the risk factors associated with these errors and; 3) explore potential strategies to mitigate these risk factors. Data was collected using clinician interviews and surveys within 24 hours of the voided order and using chart reviews. During the 16-month study period 1074 medication orders were voided, with 842 being true medication errors. A total of 22% reached the patient, with at least a single administration, but without causing patient harm. Interviews were conducted on 355 voided orders (33%). Errors were associated with multiple factors not just a single risk factor. The causal contributors included a combination of technological-, cognitive-, environment-, social-, and organization-level factors.
AHRQ-funded; HS025443.
Citation: Abraham J, Galanter WL, Touchette D .
Risk factors associated with medication ordering errors.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2021 Jan 15;28(1):86-94. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa264..
Keywords: Medication: Safety, Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Medication: Safety, Medication, Medical Errors, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Risk, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Safety
Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and trends in opioid prescribing. Results suggested that an increased use of EPCS was not associated with decreased opioid prescribing or a decrease in the amount prescribed and may have been associated with a small increase in opioid prescribing. Recommendations included levers to ensure that EPCS is integrated with outside data and that information is actively used to inform prescribing decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW .
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2027951. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27951..
Keywords: Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Flynn G, Jia H, Reynolds NR
Protocol of the randomized control trial: the WiseApp trial for improving health outcomes in PLWH (WiseApp).
This paper outlines the protocol for the WiseApp randomized control trial. The WiseApp contains real-time medication monitoring linking an electronic pill bottle and fitness tracker to the app, helping persons living with HIV (PLWH) self-manage their medication adherence and improve their overall quality of life. The primary objective of the trial is to test the effect of the WiseApp's medication adherence features on antiretroviral adherence in underserved PLWH in New York City. The real-time monitoring of the WiseApp has the potential to help providers initiate interventions to help patients resume treatment before drug resistance begins.
AHRQ-funded; HS025071.
Citation: Flynn G, Jia H, Reynolds NR .
Protocol of the randomized control trial: the WiseApp trial for improving health outcomes in PLWH (WiseApp).
BMC Public Health 2020 Nov 25;20(1):1775. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09688-0..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Medication, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Adherence/Compliance, Patient Self-Management, Chronic Conditions, Care Management, Healthcare Delivery
Salmasian H, Blanchfield BB, Joyce K
Association of display of patient photographs in the electronic health record with wrong-patient order entry errors.
Wrong-patient order entry (WPOE) errors have a high potential for harm; these errors are particularly frequent wherever workflows are complex and multitasking and interruptions are common, such as in the emergency department (ED). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of noninterruptive display of patient photographs in the banner of the electronic health record (EHR) is associated with a decreased rate of WPOE errors.
AHRQ-funded; HS024713.
Citation: Salmasian H, Blanchfield BB, Joyce K .
Association of display of patient photographs in the electronic health record with wrong-patient order entry errors.
AMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2019652. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19652..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medical Errors, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Co Z, Holmgren AJ, Classen DC
The tradeoffs between safety and alert fatigue: data from a national evaluation of hospital medication-related clinical decision support.
This study evaluated the overall performance of hospitals that used the Computerized Physician Order Entry Evaluation Tool in 2017 and 2018 and compared performances for fatal orders and nuisance orders each year. The authors evaluated 1599 hospitals that took the test by using their overall percentage scores along with the percentage of fatal orders appropriately alerted on and the percentage of nuisance orders incorrectly alerted on. Overall hospital scores improved from 58.1% in 2017 to 66.2% in 2018. Fatal order performance improved slightly from 78.8% to 83.0%, but there no very little change in nuisance order performance (89.0% to 89.7%). Conclusions were that perhaps hospitals are not targeting the deadliest orders first and some hospitals may be achieving higher scores by over-alerting. This has the potential to cause clinician burnout and even worsen patient safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS023696.
Citation: Co Z, Holmgren AJ, Classen DC .
The tradeoffs between safety and alert fatigue: data from a national evaluation of hospital medication-related clinical decision support.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2020 Aug;27(8):1252-58. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocaa098..
Keywords: Medication: Safety, Medication, Patient Safety, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Shared Decision Making, Burnout, Hospitals, Health Information Technology (HIT), Quality of Care
Alberts NM, Badawy SM, Hodges J
Development of the incharge health mobile app to improve adherence to hydroxyurea in patients with sickle cell disease: user-centered design approach.
This study looked at how use of a newly developed mobile app called InCharge Health can help sickle cell disease (SCD) patients adhere to their prescribed medication use of hydroxyurea. Four phases were used to develop the mobile app with substantial input from users and by mapping the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the framework that guided the choice for its components. More than half of the patients reported potentially low health literacy. Preferred patient app features included 7 key components: medication reminders and tracker, disease education, communication, personalization, motivation, support during pain episodes, and social support. This information was translated into features within the app.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Alberts NM, Badawy SM, Hodges J .
Development of the incharge health mobile app to improve adherence to hydroxyurea in patients with sickle cell disease: user-centered design approach.
JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020 May 8;8(5):e14884. doi: 10.2196/14884..
Keywords: Sickle Cell Disease, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Adherence/Compliance, Patient Self-Management, Medication
Badawy SM, Shah R, Beg U
Habit strength, medication adherence, and habit-based mobile health interventions across chronic medical conditions: systematic review.
This review’s goal was to systematically evaluate the most recent evidence for habit strength, medication adherence, and habit-based mHealth interventions across chronic medical conditions. Findings revealed that habit strength was strongly correlated with medication adherence, and stronger habit was associated with higher medication adherence rates, regardless of the theoretical model and/or guiding framework. Habit-based interventions were recommended to increase medication adherence, leveraging widely-available mobile technology tools and existing routines.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Badawy SM, Shah R, Beg U .
Habit strength, medication adherence, and habit-based mobile health interventions across chronic medical conditions: systematic review.
J Med Internet Res 2020 Apr 28;22(4):e17883. doi: 10.2196/17883..
Keywords: Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Chronic Conditions
Rangachari P, Dellsperger KC, Rethemeyer RK
A health system's pilot experience with using mobile Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) technology to enable meaningful Use of EHR medication reconciliation technology.
In fall 2016, a two-year grant was secured from AHRQ, to pilot a mobile Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) system on Electronic Health Record (EHR) Medication Reconciliation (MedRec), to enable Augusta University (AU) Health System, to progress from "limited-use" of EHR-MedRec technology, to "meaningful-use." This paper describes a health system's experiences with the pilot initiative; and discusses lessons learned, in regard to the potential of a mobile SKN system to enable Meaningful Use of EHR-MedRec technology.
AHRQ-funded; HS024335.
Citation: Rangachari P, Dellsperger KC, Rethemeyer RK .
A health system's pilot experience with using mobile Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) technology to enable meaningful Use of EHR medication reconciliation technology.
AMIA Annu Symp Proc 2020 Mar 4;2019:745-54..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication
Banerji A, Lai KH, Li Y
Natural language processing combined with ICD-9-CM codes as a novel method to study the epidemiology of allergic drug reactions.
Researchers sought to develop and validate a novel informatics method based on natural language processing (NLP) in combination with ICD-9-CM codes that identifies allergic drug reactions in the electronic health record. They found that using NLP with ICD-9-CM codes improved identification of allergic drug reactions, and they concluded that the resulting decrease in manual chart review effort will facilitate large epidemiology studies of this understudied area.
AHRQ-funded; HS024264; HS025375.
Citation: Banerji A, Lai KH, Li Y .
Natural language processing combined with ICD-9-CM codes as a novel method to study the epidemiology of allergic drug reactions.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020 Mar;8(3):1032-38.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.12.007..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication: Safety, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Patient Safety
Holmgren AJ, Co Z, Newmark L
Assessing the safety of electronic health records: a national longitudinal study of medication-related decision support.
The authors tested how well EHRs prevented medication errors with the potential for patient harm. Data from a national, longitudinal sample of 1527 hospitals in the US from 2009-16 who took a safety performance assessment test using simulated medication orders was used. The authors found that hospital medication order safety performance improved over time. They conclude that intentional quality improvement efforts appear to be a critical part of high safety performance and may indicate the importance of a culture of safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS023696.
Citation: Holmgren AJ, Co Z, Newmark L .
Assessing the safety of electronic health records: a national longitudinal study of medication-related decision support.
BMJ Qual Saf 2020 Jan;29(1):52-59. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009609..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Safety, Medication, Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Medication: Safety, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Shared Decision Making
Holden RJ, Campbell NL, Abebe E
Usability and feasibility of consumer-facing technology to reduce unsafe medication use by older adults.
Researchers sought to test the usability and feasibility of Brain Buddy, a consumer-facing mobile health technology designed to inform and empower older adults to consider the risks and benefits of anticholinergics. Primary care patients aged 60 years or older who used anticholinergic medications participated in task-based usability testing of Brain Buddy; usability was assessed by the System Usability Scale, and performance-based usability data collected for each task through observation. The researchers found that overall usability was acceptable or better, with 100% of participants completing each Brain Buddy task. Observed usability issues included higher rates of errors, hesitations, and need for assistance on tasks. They conclude that user-centered design and evaluation with demographically heterogeneous clinical samples uncovers correctable usability issues and confirms the value of interventions targeting consumers as agents in shared decision making and behavior change.
AHRQ- funded; HS024384.
Citation: Holden RJ, Campbell NL, Abebe E .
Usability and feasibility of consumer-facing technology to reduce unsafe medication use by older adults.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2020 Jan;16(1):54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.02.011..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Patient Safety, Health Information Technology (HIT), Shared Decision Making
Horng S, Joseph JW, Calder S
Assessment of unintentional duplicate orders by emergency department clinicians before and after implementation of a visual aid in the electronic health record ordering system.
The purpose of this cohort study was to determine whether a simple visual aid was associated with a reduction in duplicate ordering of tests and medications. An interrupted time series model was used to analyze a series of consecutive patients who visited the emergency department of a large volume academic hospital. The researchers conclude that passive visual cues that provided just-in-time decision support were associated with reductions in unintentional duplicate orders for laboratory and radiology tests but not in unintentional duplicate medication orders.
AHRQ-funded; HS024288.
Citation: Horng S, Joseph JW, Calder S .
Assessment of unintentional duplicate orders by emergency department clinicians before and after implementation of a visual aid in the electronic health record ordering system.
JAMA Netw Open 2019 Dec 2;2(12):e1916499. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16499..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Emergency Department, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Medication
McCarthy DM, Curtis LM, Courtney DM
A multifaceted intervention to improve patient knowledge and safe use of opioids: results of the ED EMC(2) randomized controlled trial.
Despite increased focus on opioid prescribing, little is known about the influence of prescription opioid medication information given to patients in the emergency department (ED). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC(2)) Opioid Strategy on patients' safe use of opioids and knowledge about opioids. The study found that the EMC(2) tools improved demonstrated safe dosing, but these benefits did not translate into actual use based on medication dairies. The text-messaging intervention did result in improved patient knowledge.
AHRQ-funded; HS023459.
Citation: McCarthy DM, Curtis LM, Courtney DM .
A multifaceted intervention to improve patient knowledge and safe use of opioids: results of the ED EMC(2) randomized controlled trial.
Acad Emerg Med 2019 Dec;26(12):1311-25. doi: 10.1111/acem.13860..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Health Literacy, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Salvador J, Bhatt S, Fowler R
Engagement with Project ECHO to increase medication-assisted treatment in rural primary care.
The purpose of this study was to understand the barriers and facilitators that affect engagement with Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) to implement medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in primary care settings. This brief report identified key systematic challenges that may directly limit primary care providers' engagement in telementoring models such as Project ECHO.
AHRQ-funded; HS025345.
Citation: Salvador J, Bhatt S, Fowler R .
Engagement with Project ECHO to increase medication-assisted treatment in rural primary care.
Psychiatr Serv 2019 Dec;70(12):1157-60. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900142..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Primary Care, Rural Health, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Carayon P, Wetterneck TB, Cartmill R
Medication safety in two intensive care units of a community teaching hospital after electronic health record implementation: sociotechnical and human factors engineering considerations.
This study examined the impact of electronic health record (EHR) implementation in two intensive care units (ICUs). The authors assessed 1254 consecutive admissions before and after an EHR implementation. They identified 4063 medication-related events either pre-implementation (2074 events) or post-implementation (1989 events). The overall potential for harm due to medication errors decreased post-implementation, but only 2 of the 3 error rates were significantly lower post-implementation. They observed reductions in rates of medication errors per admission at the stages of transcription, dispensing, and administration. In the ordering stage, 4 error types decreased post-implementation (orders with omitted information, error-prone abbreviations, illegible orders, failure to renew orders) and 4 error types increased post-implementation (orders of wrong drug, orders containing a wrong start or stop time, duplicate orders, orders with inappropriate or wrong information).
AHRQ-funded; HS015274; HS000083.
Citation: Carayon P, Wetterneck TB, Cartmill R .
Medication safety in two intensive care units of a community teaching hospital after electronic health record implementation: sociotechnical and human factors engineering considerations.
J Patient Saf 2021 Aug 1;17(5):e429-e39. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000358.
AHRQ-funded; HS015274; HS000083..
AHRQ-funded; HS015274; HS000083..
Keywords: Medication: Safety, Medication, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care, Patient Safety, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Lambert BL, Galanter W, Liu KL
Automated detection of wrong-drug prescribing errors.
Investigators assessed the specificity of an algorithm designed to detect look-alike/sound-alike (LASA) medication prescribing errors in electronic health record (EHR) data. They found that automated detection of LASA medication errors is feasible and can reveal errors not currently detected by other means. Additionally, real-time error detection is not possible with the current system. They suggested that further development should replicate their analysis in other health systems and on a larger set of medications and should decrease clinician time spent reviewing false-positive triggers by increasing specificity.
AHRQ-funded; HS021093.
Citation: Lambert BL, Galanter W, Liu KL .
Automated detection of wrong-drug prescribing errors.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Nov;28(11):908-15. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009420..
Keywords: Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medical Errors, Medication, Patient Safety
Cho H, Flynn G, Saylor M
Use of the FITT framework to understand patients' experiences using a real-time medication monitoring pill bottle linked to a mobile-based HIV self-management app: a qualitative study.
This study examined the usefulness of a mobile app linked to a real-time medication monitoring pill bottle that reminds HIV patients to take their medication. Thirty-eight randomized patients living with HIV who were aged 18 and older, owned a smartphone and were mostly medication-compliant were selected. The majority were African-American, had a high school education or less, and had a median income of less than $20,000. The Fit between Individuals, Task and Technology (FITT) framework was used to determine the fit between the individuals and the technology. Hindrances to the technology included: ease of use, HIV-related stigma and disclosure of HIV status, customized alert of medication time windows, and preference for device design.
AHRQ-funded; HS025071.
Citation: Cho H, Flynn G, Saylor M .
Use of the FITT framework to understand patients' experiences using a real-time medication monitoring pill bottle linked to a mobile-based HIV self-management app: a qualitative study.
Int J Med Inform 2019 Nov;131:103949. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.08.009..
Keywords: Patient Experience, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medication, Patient Self-Management, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Adelman JS, Applebaum JR, Southern WN
Risk of wrong-patient orders among multiple vs singleton births in the neonatal intensive care units of 2 integrated health care systems.
Researchers assessed the risk of wrong-patient orders among multiple-birth infants and singletons receiving care in the NICU and examined the proportion of wrong-patient orders between multiple-birth infants and siblings (intrafamilial errors) and between multiple-birth infants and nonsiblings (extrafamilial errors). They found that multiple-birth status in the NICU is associated with significantly increased risk of wrong-patient orders compared with singleton-birth status. Strategies to reduce this risk include using given names at birth, changing from temporary to given names when available, and encouraging parents to select names for multiple births before they are born when acceptable to families.
AHRQ-funded; HS024538.
Citation: Adelman JS, Applebaum JR, Southern WN .
Risk of wrong-patient orders among multiple vs singleton births in the neonatal intensive care units of 2 integrated health care systems.
JAMA Pediatr 2019 Oct 10;173(10):979-85. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.2733..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medication: Safety, Medication, Patient Safety, Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Wang SV, Rogers JR, Jin Y
Stepped-wedge randomised trial to evaluate population health intervention designed to increase appropriate anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Clinical guidelines recommend anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high risk of stroke; however, studies report 40% of this population is not anticoagulated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a population health intervention to increase anticoagulation use in high-risk patients with AF. The investigators concluded that algorithms to identify underuse of anticoagulation among patients with AF in healthcare databases may not capture clinical subtleties or patient preferences and may overestimate the extent of undertreatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS022193.
Citation: Wang SV, Rogers JR, Jin Y .
Stepped-wedge randomised trial to evaluate population health intervention designed to increase appropriate anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
BMJ Qual Saf 2019 Oct;28(10):835-42. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009367..
Keywords: Blood Thinners, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Shared Decision Making, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Practice Patterns, Healthcare Utilization
Quintana Y, Fahy D, Abdelfattah AM
The design and methodology of a usability protocol for the management of medications by families for aging older adults.
Health research apps often do not focus on usability as a design priority. This is problematic when the population of interest is disproportionately underrepresented as users of mobile apps, especially observed with aging older adults (> = 75). Challenges with the adoption of health information technology (HIT) among this group are exacerbated by poor design and user interface/experience (UI/UX) choices. This protocol described the testing and evaluation process of one HIT app for the family-based collaboration platform InfoSAGE.
AHRQ-funded; HS021495; HS24869.
Citation: Quintana Y, Fahy D, Abdelfattah AM .
The design and methodology of a usability protocol for the management of medications by families for aging older adults.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2019 Sep 5;19(1):181. doi: 10.1186/s12911-019-0907-8..
Keywords: Care Management, Caregiving, Elderly, Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication
Rangachari P, Dellsperger KC, Rethemeyer RK
A health system's pilot experience with using Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) technology to enable meaningful use of EHR medication reconciliation technology.
Similar to issues faced in health systems across USA, AU Health, based in Augusta, Georgia, faced a scenario of low physician engagement in, and limited-use of its Electronic Health Record (EHR) Medication Reconciliation (MedRec) technology, which translated to high rates of medication discrepancies and low accuracy of the patient's active medication list, during transitions of care. This paper describes AU Health’s pilot experience with using Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) technology to enable meaningful use of EHR medication reconciliation technology.
AHRQ-funded; HS024335.
Citation: Rangachari P, Dellsperger KC, Rethemeyer RK .
A health system's pilot experience with using Social Knowledge Networking (SKN) technology to enable meaningful use of EHR medication reconciliation technology.
J Hosp Manag Health Policy 2019 Sep;3(22). doi: 10.21037/jhmhp.2019.08.01..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication, Health Systems
Nguyen BP, Reese T, Decker S
Implementation of clinical decision support services to detect potential drug-drug interaction using clinical quality language.
The authors report on the implementation and evaluation of CDS Services which represent potential drug-drug interactions knowledge with Clinical Quality Language (CQL). Their suggested solution is based on emerging standards including CDS Hooks, FHIR, and CQL. They selected two use cases, implemented them with CQL rules, and tested them.
AHRQ-funded; HS023826; HS025984.
Citation: Nguyen BP, Reese T, Decker S .
Implementation of clinical decision support services to detect potential drug-drug interaction using clinical quality language.
Stud Health Technol Inform 2019 Aug 21;264:724-28. doi: 10.3233/shti190318..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Medication, Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Snyder ME, Jaynes H, Gernant SA
Alerts for community pharmacist-provided medication therapy management: recommendations from a heuristic evaluation.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of alerts for community pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM). The alerts come in five categories: indication, effectiveness, safety, adherence, and cost-containment. The heuristic evaluation used the Instrument for Evaluating Human-Factors Principles in Medication-Related Decision Support Alerts (I-MeDeSA). Four analysts’ individual ratings were summed for each alert, and a mean score on the modified I-MeDeSA was computed. The analysts’ scores were similar. The scores indicated opportunities for improvement across all MTM alert categories including principles of alert prioritization; text-based information; alarm philosophy; and corrective actions.
AHRQ-funded; HS025005.
Citation: Snyder ME, Jaynes H, Gernant SA .
Alerts for community pharmacist-provided medication therapy management: recommendations from a heuristic evaluation.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2019 Jul 16;19(1):135. doi: 10.1186/s12911-019-0866-0..
Keywords: Shared Decision Making, Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication, Provider, Provider: Pharmacist
Wyatt DL
AHRQ Author: Wyatt DL
Employing technology to make care transitions safer.
This commentary discusses the potential for errors in patient handoffs; important information about medications and instructions regarding patient care may be overlooked when the patient is referred to special care, moved to a new hospital setting, or discharged. The problem is especially acute for patients with multiple chronic conditions who often undergo frequent transitions to new care settings and healthcare providers. The author describes AHRQ’s funding opportunities for health information technology interventions that aim to improve communication and coordination during care transitions, such as location-based smartphone alerts, a patient-centered discharge toolkit, and a ‘smart pillbox’ electronic medication adherence reporting project.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Wyatt DL .
Employing technology to make care transitions safer.
J Nurs Care Qual 2019 Jul/Sep;34(3):185-88. doi: 10.1097/ncq.0000000000000417..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Care Coordination, Chronic Conditions, Communication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Healthcare Delivery, Hospital Discharge, Medical Errors, Medication, Patient Safety, Transitions of Care
P Dellsperger, KC Fallaw, D
AHRQ Author: Rangachari
A mixed-method study of practitioners' perspectives on issues related to EHR medication reconciliation at a health system.
This study sought to identify issues related to electronic health record (EHR) medication reconciliation (MedRec) from the perspective of practitioners directly involved in the EHR MedRec process, with the goal of reducing medication discrepancies during transitions of care and improving the accuracy of patient medication lists. The study was conducted in two rounds: individual interviews, then a survey of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists based in the outpatient and inpatient medicine service at AU Health. The survey elicited practitioner ratings of the importance of issues identified during the interviews. Issues that were rated as important by more than 70 percent of respondents include care coordination, patient education, ownership and accountability, processes-of-care, IT-related issues, and workforce training. From these issues, the authors conclude that there is an absence of shared understanding among practitioners regarding the value of EHR MedRec in promoting patient safety, which contributes to work-arounds and the suboptimal use of the EHR MedRec system, and there is also a sociotechnical dimension to many of these issues which creates an additional layer of complexity.
AHRQ-funded; HS024335.
Citation: P Dellsperger, KC Fallaw, D .
A mixed-method study of practitioners' perspectives on issues related to EHR medication reconciliation at a health system.
Qual Manag Health Care 2019 Apr/Jun;28(2):84-95. doi: 10.1097/qmh.0000000000000208..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Provider, Provider: Clinician