Question

Consider this example of how EHRs can improve the quality of patient care (‘Improving patient safety and outcomes"). A healthcare facility wishes to find out if a new, more expensive diabetes medication (Medication B) is lowering the weight and Hgb A1C lab values for patients more than the traditional medication (Medication A). When reviewing patients’ charts to compare diabetes patients on Medication A versus Medication B: a. What coded or structured data would you look for under the Problems tab in the patient’s chart to help answer this question? Choose the best answer.

i. A problem of diabetes ii.
Patient weight iii.
An active order for Medication A OR Medication B
iv. Hbg A1C
b. What coded or structured data would you look for under the Orders tab in the patient’s chart to help answer this question? Choose the best answer.
i. A problem of diabetes
ii. Patient weight
iii. An active order for Medication A OR Medication B
iv. Hbg A1C value
c. What coded or structured data would you look for under the Labs tab in the patient’s chart to help answer this question? Choose the best answer. i. A problem of diabetes
ii. Patient weight
iii. An active order for Medication A OR Medication B
iv. Hbg A1C value
d. What coded or structured data would you look for under the Vitals tab in the patient’s chart to help answer this question? Choose the best answer. i. A problem of diabetes
ii. Patient weight
iii. An active order for Medication A OR Medication B
iv. Hbg A1C value

Answer 1

To answer the question, you would look for different coded or structured data under various tabs in the patient's chart, such as problems, orders, labs, and vitals.

Step-by-step explanation:

a. The coded or structured data that you would look for under the Problems tab in the patient's chart to help answer this question would be:

i. A problem of diabetes

b. The coded or structured data that you would look for under the Orders tab in the patient's chart to help answer this question would be:

iv. Hbg A1C value

c. The coded or structured data that you would look for under the Labs tab in the patient's chart to help answer this question would be:

iv. Hbg A1C value

d. The coded or structured data that you would look for under the Vitals tab in the patient's chart to help answer this question would be:

ii. Patient weight

Answer 2

To assess the effectiveness of two diabetes medications, specific structured data within EHRs should be reviewed: the problem of diabetes in the Problems tab, active medication orders in the Orders tab, Hgb A1C lab values in the Labs tab, and patient weight in the Vitals tab. This method leverages EHRs to enhance patient care quality and safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Structured Data in EHRs for Patient Care Analysis

To determine the effectiveness of Medication B for diabetes treatment in comparison to Medication A, a review of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is necessary to extract specific structured data. For a comparative analysis, the following data should be located within different tabs of a patient's EHR:

Problems tab: Look for i. A problem of diabetes, indicating the patient's diagnosed condition.

Orders tab: Search for iii. An active order for Medication A or Medication B, revealing which medication the patient is prescribed.

Labs tab: Seek out iv. Hgb A1C value, the laboratory results indicating the patient's glycemic control.

Vitals tab: Check for ii. Patient weight, as significant changes could correlate with the treatment's effectiveness.

Understanding the use of structured data in EHRs plays a crucial role in evaluating treatment outcomes, such as monitoring changes in Hgb A1C levels and patient weight when assessing diabetes medications. This process aids healthcare facilities in informed decision-making to improve patient safety and outcomes while potentially influencing health policy and the cost of treatments.