Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to improve patient care in a number of ways. They can help to improve communication between providers, track patient history, and provide reminders for preventive care. However, there are also some potential risks associated with EHRs, such as medication errors and privacy concerns.
Here are some areas where EHRs can be used to improve patient care and safety:
- Communication: EHRs can help to improve communication between providers by providing a single source of patient information. This can help to prevent errors, such as prescribing the wrong medication or ordering the wrong test.
- Tracking: EHRs can help to track patient history, including past medical problems, medications, and allergies. This information can be used to make better decisions about patient care.
- Preventive care: EHRs can provide reminders for preventive care, such as vaccinations and cancer screenings. This can help to improve patient health and prevent disease.
Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
The Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) is a program that encourages physicians to report quality data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The data that is reported is used to measure the quality of care that is being provided.
PQRI is managed by CMS at each worksite. The specific way that PQRI is managed will vary depending on the worksite. However, there are typically a number of steps involved in the management of PQRI, including:
- Data collection: Physicians collect data on the quality of care that they are providing. This data is then submitted to CMS.
- Data analysis: CMS analyzes the data that is submitted by physicians. This analysis is used to identify areas where quality improvement is needed.
- Feedback: CMS provides feedback to physicians on their performance. This feedback is used to help physicians improve the quality of care that they are providing.
Benchmarking Opportunities
There are a number of benchmarking opportunities available to physicians who participate in PQRI. Benchmarking is the process of comparing one’s performance to the performance of others. This can be a helpful way to identify areas where improvement is needed.
One way to benchmark one’s performance is to compare it to the performance of other physicians who participate in PQRI. This can be done by looking at the data that is submitted to CMS. Another way to benchmark one’s performance is to compare it to national standards. These standards are set by organizations such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the IOM Priority Areas for Healthcare Quality Improvement
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has proposed ambulatory care measures for meeting the Institute of Medicine (IOM) priority areas for healthcare quality improvement. These prevention measures focus on many illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease prevention within the outpatient clinic setting (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
Informatics can help in this area by providing a way to track patient progress and identify areas where improvement is needed. Informatics can also be used to provide education and support to patients and providers.
Data Standards for Better Communication Amongst Computer Systems
There are a number of data standards that exist for better communication amongst computer systems. These standards are used to ensure that data can be exchanged between different systems in a consistent way.
Some of the most common data standards include:
- Health Level Seven (HL7) is a standard for exchanging clinical data.
- Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a newer standard that is based on HL7.
- DICOM is a standard for exchanging medical imaging data.
These standards are important for improving the quality of care by making it easier to share information between different healthcare providers.
