The Clinical Systems Integration Reference Implementation for Microsoft Office 2003
Executive Summary
The clinical systems integration reference implementation for Microsoft Office 2003 jumpstarts the creation of solutions that enable hospital emergency departments to bypass paper-based processes and streamline information flow. The reference implementation helps:
| • | Speed up the patient care process. |
| • | Reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. |
| • | Reduce hospital operating costs. |
| • | Increase caregiver retention. |
By using solutions based on the clinical systems integration reference implementation for Microsoft Office 2003, hospital emergency rooms can automate sending and processing orders through the lab system.
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Clinical Information Flow Today
There are four major processes in emergency care-registration, assessment, treatment, and disposition. In the treatment phase, doctors and nurses place orders for lab tests to objectively assess a patient’s condition. Lab clinicians and technicians carry out these tests and send results back to the caregiver initiating the request.
After physicians have test results in their hands, a patient’s treatment is ascertained and carried out, leading to transfer or discharge. The speed and accuracy of patient information is often compromised because of the following process inefficiencies:
| • | Clinical data is not stored in an easily retrievable format, readily available to physicians, nurses, and lab technicians for repeat assessment, delaying follow-up care. |
| • | Paper-based forms are used for data collection and handwritten documentation is not always accurate, complete, or legible. Caregivers are required to update patient records manually, often resulting in duplicate clinical documentation in multiple disparate systems. |
As a result, delays and data errors result in longer patient wait times, increased risk of misdiagnosis, and higher operating costs. These cumbersome processes force caregivers to spend more time on administrative tasks and less time on patient care.
The Clinical Systems Integration Reference Implementation for Microsoft Office 2003
By instantly accessing clinical information through a PC or Tablet PC, physicians and nurses enter lab requests in the emergency department system through familiar Microsoft user interfaces. Laboratory technicians review the orders and send the results by using the same system.
Physicians and other caregivers receive test results quickly, dramatically reducing wait time. This process allows for a single set of emergency department patient laboratory records, eliminating duplicate lab orders, information redundancy, and incomplete entries. Patients are treated more quickly and accurately and discharged or transferred more promptly
By using Microsoft technologies, hospital emergency departments can automate sending and processing orders through the lab system. By means of automation, information is streamlined and more easily shared among caregivers. This means patients are assessed and treated more quickly and misdiagnosis is reduced, resulting in higher quality patient care. Coupled with the fact that caregivers spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on patient care, emergency department canto retain staff and observe significant cost savings.
Benefits
There are four key benefits for the hospital emergency department:
| • | Lessened Patient Wait Times: Through a more streamlined information process, a single, unified view of patient laboratory records is easily accessible to caregivers, enabling expeditious patient care. |
| • | Decreased Risk of Misdiagnosis: By reducing errors because of duplicate lab requests, manual data re-entry, and long lab response times, caregivers will have access to better information for improving patient care. |
| • | Reduced Operating Costs: Fewer treatment errors save hospital’s time and money. With an improved audit trail for resource planning and billing, hospitals are able to collect payment for services rendered more efficiently. In addition, faster patient care enables the treatment of more individuals, yielding greater hospital revenues. |
| • | Increased Caregiver Retention: Caregivers are more productive and fulfilled, spending less time on administrative tasks and providing higher quality patient care. |
About Reference Implementations for Microsoft Office 2003
Reference implementations for Microsoft Office 2003 illustrate the use of Microsoft Office System and other Microsoft products and technologies to automate specific customer business processes. Reference implementations include code samples, forms, and guidance.
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