Misuse of warfarin — a blood thinner commonly prescribed to reduce blood clots in at-risk patients — can result in significant negative effects. Researchers found sharing information on proper warfarin use through an EHR system can improve safety and communication during care transitions, according to a study recently published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
To reduce the amount of hospitalizations related to warfarin misuse, University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia began using the EHR discharge summary to communicate to both patients and providers the important steps in managing treatment with warfarin. Prior to implementing this change, MU Health Care used paper forms to communicate warfarin plans.
Before implementing the EHR discharge protocol, 42 percent of patients' discharge charts involved essential information for discharging patients on warfarin. After EHR use for warfarin education, that number increased to 78 percent.
"Of the 28 physicians and pharmacists who took part in the survey, 61 percent said that the new warfarin order was 'user friendly and accessible," said Margaret Day, MD, a primary care physician and medical director at MU Health Care's Family Medicine-Keene Clinic.
More articles on quality:
Diagnostic variability, error rates high in lumbar spine MRI examinations
5 hospitals in Washington with top nurse-patient communication scores
Study: High volume and high quality go hand in hand for hip and knee replacement