Watson Clinic implements AHRQ CDS measures
Watson Clinic, a large multispecialty clinic in central Florida, was among participants in the recent Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality’s (AHRQ) electronic Preventive Services Selector (ePSS) Knowledge Transfer project, integrating the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations into its patient workflow to improve its care processes.
Approximately 70 percent of Watson Clinic's primary care physicians are using ePSS in their EHR, according to AHRQ. These physicians see 20 to 25 patients per day and found ePSS to be accessible and easy to document into care processes—factors considered vital for integration into the clinic's workflow, according to the Rockville, Md.-based agency.
The ePSS is designed to provide real-time decision support for clinicians regarding appropriate screening, counseling and preventive services for their patients. It is based on USPSTF recommendations and can be searched by specific patient characteristics, such as age, sex and selected behavioral risk factors.
Through its participation in the ePSS project, Watson Clinic is using two strategies to increase the use of ePSS by its physicians, according to the AHRQ. First, the clinic uses its quality committee and quarterly primary care meetings as opportunities to communicate and disseminate information about the USPSTF recommendations.
Second, the clinic is initiating a medical home pilot program that will enable physicians to extract and review data from its EHR and to develop strategies for improving care. The clinic will integrate the ePSS tool into the medical home model by using the USPSTF recommendations to measure the effectiveness of its care coordination efforts, AHRQ added.
AHRQ provided technical assistance to Watson Clinic to implement ePSS.
Approximately 70 percent of Watson Clinic's primary care physicians are using ePSS in their EHR, according to AHRQ. These physicians see 20 to 25 patients per day and found ePSS to be accessible and easy to document into care processes—factors considered vital for integration into the clinic's workflow, according to the Rockville, Md.-based agency.
The ePSS is designed to provide real-time decision support for clinicians regarding appropriate screening, counseling and preventive services for their patients. It is based on USPSTF recommendations and can be searched by specific patient characteristics, such as age, sex and selected behavioral risk factors.
Through its participation in the ePSS project, Watson Clinic is using two strategies to increase the use of ePSS by its physicians, according to the AHRQ. First, the clinic uses its quality committee and quarterly primary care meetings as opportunities to communicate and disseminate information about the USPSTF recommendations.
Second, the clinic is initiating a medical home pilot program that will enable physicians to extract and review data from its EHR and to develop strategies for improving care. The clinic will integrate the ePSS tool into the medical home model by using the USPSTF recommendations to measure the effectiveness of its care coordination efforts, AHRQ added.
AHRQ provided technical assistance to Watson Clinic to implement ePSS.