Report analyzes how providers use clinical decision support systems
A majority of healthcare providers use clinical decision support (CDS) systems to help them make care decisions for patients, but the technology tools are not without their own struggles, according to a report by market research firm Reaction Data.
CDS systems are described as health information technology tools that help physicians and health professionals with clinical decision-making tasks, according to the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology. CDS systems can help healthcare providers achieve better quality of care and health outcomes, fewer errors, improved efficiency, and high provider and patient satisfaction.
“These tools include computerized alerts and reminders to care providers and patients; clinical guidelines; condition-specific order sets; focused patient data reports and summaries; documentation templates; diagnostic support, and contextually relevant reference information, among other tools,” the ONC’s website stated.
Though the systems are seen as useful and convenient tools, they are associated with several complications, according to the report. Reported issues include prescribing the wrong medications for patients, misdiagnoses and being difficult to integrate with electronic health records (EHRs).
The study, which queried 180 healthcare executives and employees to analyze the CDS system trends, revealed that 74 percent of respondents currently use a CDS system, while 26 percent don’t. The top reasons for using a CDS system in a clinical setting included: medication orders (30 percent); lab orders (24 percent); medical imaging orders (20 percent); the Choosing Wisely initiative (13 percent); and other various reasons (13 percent). Choosing Wisely is a health education campaign led by the ABIM foundation that aims to improve doctor-patient relationships.
“It’s important to keep in mind that CDS is not meant to replace the provider’s need to practice medicine,” the study said. “It is meant to help them quickly narrow down the best possible options given a specific scenario.”
Additionally, the study revealed that 55 percent of respondents use multiple CDS solutions, with many providers stating multiple systems are needed to help with drug ordering or other clinical needs. A majority of providers—48 percent—that use multiple solutions said they plan to continue doing so, while just 26 percent said they plan to standardize to one platform in the future.
“Our system has been updated and changed a lot over the years, not sure if any system is ideal, they all require a learning curve. It is very costly to change systems, as well as the learning curve,” an unnamed respondent said in the report.
Danielle covers Clinical Innovation & Technology as a senior news writer for TriMed Media. Previously, she worked as a news reporter in northeast Missouri and earned a journalism degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She's also a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls.