Exploring the Benefits of Clinical Information Systems: Real-Life Examples
Clinical Information Systems (CIS) have revolutionized the healthcare industry by enabling healthcare providers to store, manage and disseminate patient data more efficiently. These systems have many benefits, including a reduction in medical errors, improved patient care outcomes, and more accurate and comprehensive documentation. In this article, we’ll look at some real-life examples of how CIS is transforming healthcare.
Reducing Medical Errors
Medical errors are a significant problem in the healthcare industry. According to a 2016 study, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 251,000 deaths annually. CIS can help assess medical errors by identifying potential issues before they occur.
For example, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, CIS has been used to decrease the number of unnecessary medications prescribed to patients. By integrating multiple sources of medication information, clinicians can examine a patient’s medication regimen in real-time, decreasing the likelihood of duplicate or harmful medications being prescribed.
Improved Patient Care Outcomes
CIS can also improve patient care outcomes by creating a more thorough and accurate patient record. By compiling a centralized record of all previous test results, diagnoses, and medications, clinicians can make more informed decisions about a patient’s care.
At Geisinger Health System, CIS has helped reduce hospital readmissions by 20%. Geisinger implemented a program that utilized CIS to track patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Physicians could monitor patients remotely and intervene early if symptoms suggested a potential exacerbation, which helped reduce hospitalizations.
More Comprehensive Documentation
CIS offers a more comprehensive way of documenting patient information. By allowing healthcare providers to access real-time patient data from multiple information sources, CIS creates a more complete representation of a patient’s health.
At the University of California, San Francisco, CIS was used to implement a tool that enabled physicians and nurses to review one another’s notes. Through shared documentation, medical professionals could more easily collaborate and make informed clinical decisions. It also helped improve patient safety by creating a more comprehensive picture of a patient’s medical history.
Conclusion
Clinical Information Systems have had a profound impact on healthcare in recent years. They offer solutions to some of the most pressing problems facing healthcare providers today, including medical errors, patient outcomes, and documentation.
By leveraging the power of CIS, healthcare providers can reduce medical errors, improve patient care outcomes and create more comprehensive medical documentation. Real-life examples like those mentioned here demonstrate the value of CIS and its role in transforming the healthcare industry.
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