Innovations in Primary Care
Automated Pre-Visit Test Ordering Streamlines Primary Care for Older Adults and Reduces Post-Visit Communication
The average primary care visit is 18 minutes, and older adult patients have increasingly complex health conditions and needs. Pre-visit planning can improve communication and efficiency. To harness the benefits of pre-visit planning, an internal medicine practice in a suburban academic medical center built an Epic electronic health record workflow to auto-order preventive and chronic disease tests due in the next six months. The practice sent a patient-portal message three weeks before the visit listing those tests to enable self-scheduling and invite patients to list up to three concerns. Clinicians reviewed replies and adjusted plans ahead of the appointment. To date, about 3500 patients have received the automated communication. Of those patients, 81% read the message and about 27% replied. Patients appreciated consolidating and completing tests before the visit so results could be discussed in-visit. Clinicians reported reduced post-visit results communication; few patients canceled after pre-testing.
Permanent link: Automated Pre-Visit Test Ordering for the Complex Older Adult: From Chaos to Coordination
Majken T. Wingo, MD, et al
Division of Community Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
The Annals of Family Medicine