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Electronic medical records show promise in reducing unnecessary testing

Boston Medical Center reduced unnecessary diagnostic testing and increased postoperative order sets after implementing electronic medical record-based interventions. The study demonstrates the impact of deploying multiple interventions simultaneously within the electronic medical record on delivering high-value care.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalThe Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety·DateOct 19, 2018

Depression and Facebook posts

Researchers analyzed Facebook status histories and electronic medical records of 683 patients to identify correlations between post language and depression. They found that language indicating sadness, loneliness, hostility, self-reference, and rumination were associated with a higher risk of depression.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 15, 2018

What factors influence timing of start of dialysis?

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, examines the complex processes shaping dialysis timing and suggests opportunities for patient-centered approaches. The research reveals interrelated factors, including physician practices, precipitating events, and patient-physician dynamics.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateJan 25, 2016

Guides within electronic medical records during visits help doctors provide better care

Researchers found that embedded clinical practice guidelines in patient electronic medical records during outpatient visits improved the use of severity measurement tools, referrals to rehabilitation programs, inhaler education, and vaccinations among stable COPD patients. The intervention also led to better quality of care measures.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalRespiratory Medicine·DateNov 5, 2015

How hospitals can improve outcomes of weekend surgeries

A new study identifies five resources that help hospitals overcome the 'weekend effect' in urgent general surgery procedures. Hospitals with increased nurse-to-bed ratios, electronic medical records, inpatient physical rehabilitation programs, home-health programs, and pain management programs are more likely to improve patient outcomes.

First large-scale PheWAS study using EMRs provides systematic method to discover new disease association

Researchers used genotype data from 13,835 individuals to perform the first large-scale phenome-wide association study (PheWAS), discovering 63 previously unknown SNP-disease associations. The study validated known associations across hundreds of previous studies and found genes associated with multiple diseases or traits.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateNov 25, 2013

Electronic medical records speed genetic health studies

Researchers at Northwestern University have found that using electronic medical records to identify patients with diseases can be faster and cheaper than recruiting thousands of participants. The study used data from five national sites to accurately identify patients with five types of diseases, achieving accuracy rates of 73-98%.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 20, 2011

Electronic medical records improve quality of care in resource-limited countries

A new study conducted in Eldoret, Kenya found that computer-generated reminders about overdue tests yielded a nearly 50% increase in the appropriate ordering of CD4 blood tests. This improvement in quality of care was made possible through the implementation of just-in-time clinician support within electronic medical records.

SourceIndiana University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateMar 18, 2011

Speed electronic medical record adoption via key medical centers, says Management Science

A new study by INFORMS suggests that persuading influential medical centers to adopt electronic medical records can accelerate the adoption of these systems among neighboring hospitals. The research found that targeting well-known, larger, and older hospitals in densely populated regions can significantly increase the rate of adoption.

NIH takes step to assess any possible risk associated with low-dose radiation exposure

The National Institutes of Health is implementing a system to track radiation dose exposure from medical imaging tests, aiming to determine potential cancer risks. The electronic medical record will store and retrieve reports on radiation doses, allowing for the collection of data necessary to assess cancer risk.

SourceAmerican College of Radiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·DateFeb 1, 2010

Kaiser Permanente study shows electronic medical records and outreach improve osteoporosis care

A Kaiser Permanente study found that electronic medical records and outreach programs significantly improved osteoporosis diagnosis and management in older women. The study, which analyzed data from 3,588 women aged 67 and older, showed a significant increase in bone density screening and osteoporosis medication after a fracture.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 22, 2007