Using Epic's Care Everywhere, a point-to-point health information exchange tool, Minneapolis-based Allina Health was able to reduce the number of duplicate tests and procedures performed in the system's emergency departments.
Researchers studied patient visit records before and after Care Everywhere was implemented and conducted interviews with ED physicians and other clinical staff, according to an account of the study published in Applied Clinical Informatics.
Over the six-month study period, Care Everywhere was used in about 1.5 percent of all ED encounters. Based on patient records, researchers estimated that usage resulted in 560 avoided duplicate diagnostic tests and procedures, as well as the identification of 28 instances of habitual drug-seeking behavior. Additionally, physicians and others on the clinical staff felt the use of the HIE improved patient care.
The researchers concluded the use of a point-to-point HIE can improve patient care while more efficiently using a hospital's resources.
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