The EHR isn't just for patients anymore. A new study from the University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor and published in Health Services Research has used EHR data to track provider effectiveness and value-added care.
The study considered data from more than 1,200 nurses and 7,300 patients over a six-month period at an urban, 854-bed teaching hospital.
When comparing provider identity and care provided with patient outcomes during hospitalization, researchers found variations in nursing care accounted for 7.9 percent of variance in patients' change in clinical condition. Higher levels of education and expertise both contributed to shorter lengths of stay and lower costs, according to the research.
The study authors suggested the finding opens up the possibility of using EHRs as a way to track clinician performance and identify the types of value-added care that improve patient outcomes.
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