Physician inpatient order writing on microcomputer workstations: effects on resource utilization

Article Abstract:

Electronic medical records may save money for both patients and hospitals, but improvements are needed to reduce the amount of time physicians spend writing the reports. For 1,859 internal medicine patients, 22 teams of doctors used microcomputer workstations for writing all inpatient orders, and for a control group of 3,360 patients with similar complaints, 46 teams used conventional paper charts. The average total charge per patient was $887 lower for the study group than for the control group. Hospital costs were an average $594 (13.1%) lower for patients in the study group than for patients in the control group. Patients in the control group stayed in the hospital longer than patients in the study group. However, during a 10-hour observation period, medical interns using the microcomputers spent an average 33 minutes longer writing reports than interns using paper charts.

Management, Microcomputers, Medical care, Cost of, Health care costs

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Toward electronic medical records that improve care

Article Abstract:

Studies in natural language processing are a fundamental step toward achieving the goal of electronic medical records. Electronic medical record systems must help improve patient outcomes. Progress towards this endpoint requires comprehensive collections of clinical data in electronic form. Natural language processing may help compile this information. Research published in 1995 revealed that natural language processing software was comparable to physicians in coding diagnoses from chest x-ray reports. This software was designed to extract data for use in a clinical alert system and is not viewed as a substitute for physicians. Researchers programmed the natural language processor to recognize narrow definitions of disease which avoids false positive results. Software programmed with broader definitions of disease is more appropriate for a clinical alert system.

Editorial, Natural language processing, Natural language interfaces

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Inpatient computer-based standing orders vs. physician reminders to increase influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates: A randomized trial

Article Abstract:

The effects of computerized physician standing orders compared with physician reminders on impatient vaccination rates are determined. The results reveal that computerized standing orders are more effective for this purpose.

United States, Science & research, Management dynamics, Offices & clinics of medical doctors, Physicians & Surgeons, Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists), Research, Practice, Physicians, Pneumococcal vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccines

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