Our program is a leader in the creative use of information
technology in academic medicine.
 Information
Technology Highlights:
- State of the art electronic medical records system
- Notebook computers with wireless access for all residents and faculty
- Wireless network access from local hospitals
- Internet connectivity with access to resources such as Up-To-Date
- Pocket PC handheld devices for each resident
The process of implementing our electronic medical record
system (EMR) EpicCare began in 1995 with funding from a Health Resources and
Services Administration Graduate Training in Family Medicine grant. The EMR
system was first put into production in October 1997, and the system became
fully operational in all clinical areas of the Family Health Center by
mid-April of 1998. Since that time, all of our patient care records in the
outpatient setting have been maintained on this system.
Epic
Systems Corporation has consistently developed one of the most
advanced EMR applications available and is now in use by providers such
as UT Southwestern system, Harris Methodist system, Kelsey Seybold
Clinics, and Kaiser-Permanente System nationwide. They have
received many ongoing awards for their innovation in healthcare.
We anticipate a nationwide
movement toward electronic records and feel that a residents experience
with EpicCare will help to prepare them for making important decisions
in choosing and using any electronic record system.
Data recorded in the EMR includes visit notes for patient
encounters, past medical history, family medical history, encounter diagnoses,
immunizations, past and current medications, allergies, a list of completed and
recommended health maintenance interventions, laboratory data, X-ray reports,
and demographic data. The EMR is linked via an electronic interface to the
Family Health Center lab
computer system as well as our primary reference lab - Quest. In addition to
being a repository for medical information, the EMR facilitates the patient care
tasks of placing orders and reviewing results of diagnostic tests. Orders for
laboratory tests, X-rays, other diagnostic studies, immunizations, medications,
patient education materials, medical supplies and referrals are placed through
the EMR. Lab orders from the EMR flow electronically across the lab interface to
our lab information system and Quest. Results for laboratory tests performed in our in
house lab flow back across the interface to the patient’s electronic chart and
also to the ordering physician’s electronic in-basket for review.
The EMR in-basket is a more versatile and efficient version
of the traditional paper in-basket. EMR in-basket categories include patient
calls, incomplete charts, lab results, overdue results, and X-ray reports. The in-basket also
relays messages between faculty physicians, resident physicians, nurses,
psychologists, the Center’s social worker, other providers, and
patients. Patient calls and refill requests are typically routed through a nurse to the patient’s
physician via the in-basket. The physician may then call the patient directly or
send a reply to the nurse’s in-basket giving instructions on how to address
the patient’s request.
The Family Health Center is viewed as a pilot site for
implementing this state-of-the-art system into patient care and residency
training program efforts. We
believe that the system holds tremendous potential for further improving patient
care, resident education, research capabilities and practice management.
We have been very successful in leveraging grant funding to continue development
of our EMR system to maximize these benefits.
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