An EHR dashboard launched in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Children's National Health System in D.C., has resulted in improved quality and safety over the course of three months.
Within that window, time from admission to treatment improved by 49 percent, the number of CAUTIs dropped from 32 percent to 19 percent and medication reconciliation accuracy and completion increased 13 percent, according to a study published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
"We found that having a visible, unitwide, real-time dashboard improves the dynamic nature of care delivery and increases awareness for potential interventions," Brian Jacobs, MD, vice president, CMIO and CIO of Children's National's Center for Pediatric Informatics, said in a statement.
The EHR technology also enables parents to look up and monitor their child's treatments in real-time. They also paint a clear picture for medical staff of what can be done to affect patient safety and quality from moment to moment.
The hospital has installed the EHR dashboard in the neonatal and cardiac units as well, and has plans to extend the technology to its surgical care, acute care and neurology units.