EHR implementation at N.Y. jails improves care
The implementation of EHRs at 12 New York City jails between 2008 and 2011 improved care of vulnerable populations and enabled reporting and analysis of patterns of abuse, neglect and other patient concerns related to human rights, according to a study published in the Health and Human Rights Journal.
The NYC jail system houses approximately 12,000 inmates on any given day. The average length of stay in the NYC jail system is approximately 45 days, but the median stay is just eight days. As such, large quantities of health information are challenging to manage and taking a comprehensive and holistic approach to care is difficult, according to study authors.
The rollout of an EHR system aimed to tackle these issues, but to get there required substantial modification of the core product—particularly to focus on new admission intakes, sick call, medical emergencies, infirmary care, medication dispensation, hemodialysis, newborn nursery, mental health encounters and solitary confinement rounds.
“After a three-year rollout, the EHR has been well accepted by patients and staff as an important tool for improving clinical care. The EHR is used for all aspects of medical, mental health, and discharge planning services, amounting to approximately 30,000 documented patient encounters every month,” wrote lead author Sarah Glowa-Kollisch, MPH, director of policy and evaluation at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Bureau of Correctional Health Services, and colleagues.
Read more about the study here.