Executive Summary
The Real Time Patient Data project analyzes the Washington Hospital Center (MHWC) and their current usage of Centricity. Centricity is a General Electric (GE) medical software and is the interface used for the electronic medical record (EMR) at MWHC. This facility is part of the MedStar corporation and one of the region’s largest hospitals. The purpose of this project is to advance the EMR system with the implementation of real-time documentation of patient vital signs. Patient safety and accurate medical documentation are ongoing concerns in healthcare and it is the aim of this project to aid in reducing errors to improve patient outcomes.
Purpose
Obtaining a patient’s vital signs represent one of the most fundamental aspects of patient care within the hospital setting. The current usage of Centricity at MWHC, requires nurses to obtain vital signs and then enter the values manually into the EMR. This process is not only time consuming for nurses, but results in a delayed entry of information and increases the risk for transcribing errors. Several studies support the use of automated documentation of vital signs, including one that found when vital sign documentation was first written on paper, then entered into a paper or EMR system, error rates were 10% and 4.4% respectively (Smith et al., 2009). This study also found that the implementation of automated vital sign documentation directly into an EMR significantly decreased error rates to less than 1% (Smith et al., 2009).
Solution
The primary course of action involves the implementation of using real-time vital signs collection with a CARESCAPE machine paired with the Mobile Vitals Plus application that automatically communicates the values into Centricity. Use of CARESCAPE, a GE product, will allow for cost savings and minimize alterations to current systems that could possibly be disruptive of patient care. Evidence-based evaluative tools used in the implementation of this project will insure a smoother transition from the current EMR to the improved system with oversight from the project management team.
Benefits
The use of real-time CARESCAPE devices throughout the institution will result in significant benefits to users, the hospital and ultimately to the patient. Accurate and timely data entry of vital signs allows for appropriate and faster responses in patient interventions. This allows clinicians to address trending concerns immediately, thereby improving patient outcomes, shortening lengths of stay, and decreasing hospital costs due to adverse outcomes from delayed responses. Additionally, this system will reduce nursing documentation error rates and improve nursing satisfaction through enhanced workflow efficiency. The goals of improving patient safety, reducing hospital costs, and increasing user satisfaction can all be met with the implementation of the Real Time Patient Data Project.
Disclaimer
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the SDLC process for a George Mason University Nursing Informatics Course and is not meant as an endorsement of or endorsement by GE Healthcare, Mobile Vitals Plus, MedStar, Washington Hospital Center or any company mentioned within this website. This website is solely for the use of this course and any other use is prohibited.
The Real Time Patient Data project analyzes the Washington Hospital Center (MHWC) and their current usage of Centricity. Centricity is a General Electric (GE) medical software and is the interface used for the electronic medical record (EMR) at MWHC. This facility is part of the MedStar corporation and one of the region’s largest hospitals. The purpose of this project is to advance the EMR system with the implementation of real-time documentation of patient vital signs. Patient safety and accurate medical documentation are ongoing concerns in healthcare and it is the aim of this project to aid in reducing errors to improve patient outcomes.
Purpose
Obtaining a patient’s vital signs represent one of the most fundamental aspects of patient care within the hospital setting. The current usage of Centricity at MWHC, requires nurses to obtain vital signs and then enter the values manually into the EMR. This process is not only time consuming for nurses, but results in a delayed entry of information and increases the risk for transcribing errors. Several studies support the use of automated documentation of vital signs, including one that found when vital sign documentation was first written on paper, then entered into a paper or EMR system, error rates were 10% and 4.4% respectively (Smith et al., 2009). This study also found that the implementation of automated vital sign documentation directly into an EMR significantly decreased error rates to less than 1% (Smith et al., 2009).
Solution
The primary course of action involves the implementation of using real-time vital signs collection with a CARESCAPE machine paired with the Mobile Vitals Plus application that automatically communicates the values into Centricity. Use of CARESCAPE, a GE product, will allow for cost savings and minimize alterations to current systems that could possibly be disruptive of patient care. Evidence-based evaluative tools used in the implementation of this project will insure a smoother transition from the current EMR to the improved system with oversight from the project management team.
Benefits
The use of real-time CARESCAPE devices throughout the institution will result in significant benefits to users, the hospital and ultimately to the patient. Accurate and timely data entry of vital signs allows for appropriate and faster responses in patient interventions. This allows clinicians to address trending concerns immediately, thereby improving patient outcomes, shortening lengths of stay, and decreasing hospital costs due to adverse outcomes from delayed responses. Additionally, this system will reduce nursing documentation error rates and improve nursing satisfaction through enhanced workflow efficiency. The goals of improving patient safety, reducing hospital costs, and increasing user satisfaction can all be met with the implementation of the Real Time Patient Data Project.
Disclaimer
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the SDLC process for a George Mason University Nursing Informatics Course and is not meant as an endorsement of or endorsement by GE Healthcare, Mobile Vitals Plus, MedStar, Washington Hospital Center or any company mentioned within this website. This website is solely for the use of this course and any other use is prohibited.