How Computers Help Care

Patient *John’s story illustrates how a $150,000 technology grant will make a difference

As hospital colleagues, we spend our days gathering and sharing medical information. Reviewing charts, searching medical journals and discussing what we’ve learned with colleagues, patients and family members is time consuming. But we can do it more efficiently—and provide even better care. How? With computer technology.

If you think technology distances patients and caregivers, you’ll be surprised to learn it’s just the opposite. “Technology builds bridges between patients and caregivers,” says Donald Levick, M.D., information services physician liaison.

Building bridges is what we’re doing with a $150,000 Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS) planning grant from the National Library of Medicine.

Our IAIMS team consists of five groups dedicated to a digital library, clinical decision support, telehealth services, the patient portal and evidence at the point of care. The goal: develop a plan that enhances how we use our computers in these areas to better access and communicate information.

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Here’s an example of how we can provide better, safer care to one patient with the help of computers.

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Here’s an example of how we can provide better, safer care to one patient with the help of computers.

 

John* has stomach pain. His doctor orders an ultrasound and gives him an address for a password-protected Web site (patient portal) where John and his doctor can communicate.

After his ultrasound, John goes home to find an e-mail from his doctor asking how he’s feeling. John says he’s feverish and tired. John’s doctor looks at a digital image of his ultrasound on our picture archive communication system (PACS). Suspecting a gall bladder infection, John’s doctor admits him to the hospital.

After reviewing John’s records online, a surgeon decides to remove the gall bladder. During surgery he determines John’s infection is widespread and consults with infectious disease specialists.

After reviewing John’s information from their offices, specialists, residents and medical students meet at John’s bedside in the intensive care unit. There, they access online medical journals (digital library) to find the latest evidence-based treatment for John’s infection (evidence at the point of care).

Overnight, John is monitored from a remote location by a teleintensivist from our advanced intensive care unit (telehealth services). He constantly reviews John’s real-time clinical data. At midnight, John’s children arrive from out of state. Using audio-visual conferencing equipment, the teleintensivist assures them he will monitor John all night.

The next morning, when the attending physician orders a medication using computer-assisted physician order entry (CAPOE), a drug allergy alert appears on the screen (clinical decision support). The physician uses the digital library to find the best substitute (evidence at the point of care).

Three days later, caregivers discharge John using automated discharge instructions (ADI). John receives a printout containing a medication list and instructions on what he should do to ensure a smooth transition from hospital to home.

*John is a fictitious patient, but his story is based on real care situations.

To learn more about our program, “Knowledge Integration: The IAIMS Experience at LVHHN,” visit www.iaims.lvh.org.

This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM