Abstract
Background: The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) has been proposed as a way to reduce medical errors. It can also be used to document clinician involvement, which may affect outcomes. We sought to determine whether the EMR could be used to improve attending involvement in daily care, enhance surgical revenue, and lower mortality of patients with trauma. Methods: In 2004, the Trauma Division adopted a software program (CARE, Miami, FL) for creating an EMR and implemented a weekly report that was distributed to all members of the division and also to Departmental decision makers. Before initiation, explicit instructions were given to all surgeons that daily notes in the EMR were expected and would be followed by weekly reports. Before this, most notes were recorded in the paper chart and were difficult to track. Differences among proportions were determined with z test or χ2, where appropriate with significance defined as p < 0.05. Results: With implementation of the EMR, daily and weekly reports were immediately available. Both attending surgeon documented notes and divisional annual revenue increased. A reduction in mortality was also observed. Conclusion: The EMR can be used to change attending surgeon involvement in patient care and procedures. The increase in attending involvement was associated with an increase in revenue. Use of the EMR was associated with a significant reduction in hospital mortality.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 634-636 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2009 |
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Keywords
- Documentation
- Electronic medical record
- Mortality
- Physician profiling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
Cite this
Electronic medical records and mortality in trauma patients. / Deckelbaum, Dan L.; Feinstein, Ara J.; Schulman, Carl I; Augenstein, Jeffrey S.; Murtha, Mary F.; Livingstone, Alan; McKenney, Mark G.
In: Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care, Vol. 67, No. 3, 01.09.2009, p. 634-636.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Electronic medical records and mortality in trauma patients
AU - Deckelbaum, Dan L.
AU - Feinstein, Ara J.
AU - Schulman, Carl I
AU - Augenstein, Jeffrey S.
AU - Murtha, Mary F.
AU - Livingstone, Alan
AU - McKenney, Mark G.
PY - 2009/9/1
Y1 - 2009/9/1
N2 - Background: The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) has been proposed as a way to reduce medical errors. It can also be used to document clinician involvement, which may affect outcomes. We sought to determine whether the EMR could be used to improve attending involvement in daily care, enhance surgical revenue, and lower mortality of patients with trauma. Methods: In 2004, the Trauma Division adopted a software program (CARE, Miami, FL) for creating an EMR and implemented a weekly report that was distributed to all members of the division and also to Departmental decision makers. Before initiation, explicit instructions were given to all surgeons that daily notes in the EMR were expected and would be followed by weekly reports. Before this, most notes were recorded in the paper chart and were difficult to track. Differences among proportions were determined with z test or χ2, where appropriate with significance defined as p < 0.05. Results: With implementation of the EMR, daily and weekly reports were immediately available. Both attending surgeon documented notes and divisional annual revenue increased. A reduction in mortality was also observed. Conclusion: The EMR can be used to change attending surgeon involvement in patient care and procedures. The increase in attending involvement was associated with an increase in revenue. Use of the EMR was associated with a significant reduction in hospital mortality.
AB - Background: The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) has been proposed as a way to reduce medical errors. It can also be used to document clinician involvement, which may affect outcomes. We sought to determine whether the EMR could be used to improve attending involvement in daily care, enhance surgical revenue, and lower mortality of patients with trauma. Methods: In 2004, the Trauma Division adopted a software program (CARE, Miami, FL) for creating an EMR and implemented a weekly report that was distributed to all members of the division and also to Departmental decision makers. Before initiation, explicit instructions were given to all surgeons that daily notes in the EMR were expected and would be followed by weekly reports. Before this, most notes were recorded in the paper chart and were difficult to track. Differences among proportions were determined with z test or χ2, where appropriate with significance defined as p < 0.05. Results: With implementation of the EMR, daily and weekly reports were immediately available. Both attending surgeon documented notes and divisional annual revenue increased. A reduction in mortality was also observed. Conclusion: The EMR can be used to change attending surgeon involvement in patient care and procedures. The increase in attending involvement was associated with an increase in revenue. Use of the EMR was associated with a significant reduction in hospital mortality.
KW - Documentation
KW - Electronic medical record
KW - Mortality
KW - Physician profiling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449083296&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70449083296&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181a0fbce
DO - 10.1097/TA.0b013e3181a0fbce
M3 - Article
C2 - 19741412
AN - SCOPUS:70449083296
VL - 67
SP - 634
EP - 636
JO - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
JF - Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
SN - 2163-0755
IS - 3
ER -