Quality management in health care
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Qual Manag Health Care · Jul 2006
Proliferation of electronic health records among obstetrician-gynecologists.
To examine the current use of electronic health records (EHRs) and their key subfunctions among obstetrician-gynecologists and compare this trend with other doctors. ⋯ Compared with peers, obstetrician-gynecologists are less likely to be using EHR in their practice. In addition, their systems tend to have fewer medical error preventing functions and fewer basic functions.
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Qual Manag Health Care · Jul 2006
Evaluation of a fast track unit: alignment of resources and demand results in improved satisfaction and decreased length of stay for emergency department patients.
Emergency departments (EDs) are struggling with overcrowding. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement recently concluded that reducing delays is critical to improving all aspects of emergency care. To reduce cycle times and improve patient flow, we developed a separate stream of care focused on low-acuity patients in our academic ED. ⋯ This study supports an emphasis on improving turnaround time as a primary driver of satisfaction, and demonstrates that a simple intervention characterized by focusing existing resources on the needs of a specific population can significantly improve health care delivery. Thoughtful alignment of resources with the needs of specific patient populations should similarly streamline care in other clinical settings.