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Fabio Sabogal, PhD, Joseph Scherger, MD, MPH, and Ida Ahmadpour, MPH, CHESare authors of "Supporting Care Management, Improving Care Coordination; TheRole of Electronic Health Records."
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The authors delineate how electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronichealth records (EHRs) enable more effective exchange of information to helpphysicians, nurses, staff and patients track the care a patient has receivedand important information about treatments, outcomes, best evidence, andrecommended continuing care. Sabogal et al recommend patient registries asvehicles to track and improve the care of patients in a given physicianpractice or healthcare facility.
Perhaps most importantly, the authors itemize the ways healthcareinformation technology (HIT) increases communication among providers, withstaff, and between patients and physicians.
Communication is key to the second Lumetra study published in the CAHQJournal this month. Dr. Sabogal is joined by co-authors Ashley Antler and AnaPerez in an evaluation of best practices for improving communication betweenHispanic patients -- particularly the elderly -- and physicians. Sixstrategies are recommended, including the importance of improving trust andrespect, addressing language and medical literacy barriers, and improvingaccess to care.
The authors point out that "patient distrust and perceptions of physiciandisrespect are common" among Hispanic patients, who often feel theirhealthcare providers condescend and don't communicate effectively with them.
Cultural literacy as well as language skills can improve the care -- andgeneral health -- of elderly Hispanic patients, as better communicationgenerally means more compliance with care directives and better understandingof a patient's role in improving and maintaining their own health.
"It's clear that information and understanding are focal points ofeffective medicine in the 21st century," says author Sabogal, "whether theinformation is conveyed by electronic media from one doctor to another or to apatient at home, or between a healthcare provider and a patient with clearunderstanding of the patient's cultural boundaries and language constraints."
The two articles appear in the CAHQ Journal for the 3rd quarter, availableat http://www.cahq.org.
Lumetra is an independent consulting organization dedicated to improvingthe quality, safety, efficiency, and integrity of healthcare. Lumetra providesan array of professional services that include medical review, healthinformation technology, quality evaluation and improvement, marketing andcommunications, and data analysis to private and public entities. AsCalifornia's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, nonprofit Lumetraworks with healthcare providers across the state to ensure that every personreceives the right care, every time. For more information, please visithttp://www.lumetra.com.
SOURCE Lumetra
