Week 1 - PT 815

Informatics

Purpose is to study, organize, and communicate data in a meaningful way

Brings together people, data, and technology

PT Context: optimizes care of patients and populations, measures quality, provides research

Clinical Informatics - 3 Areas of Focus

1. Clinical practice

2. Health care delivery

3. Patient care

List the areas that clinical informatics is used to improve

• Individual health

• Patient care

• Patient safety

• Public health

• Biomedical research

• Strengthen patient/provider relationships

• Improve overall health care quality

• Improve health care system

What are the areas that use informatics outside of patient care?

• Population health

• Quality improvement

• Patient safety

• Research

• Individuals (personal health)

Interoperability

Information for patient care that moves between systems

Receiving institution can use the data the same way it would use internally generated data

Benefits: prevents medical errors, eliminates need for duplicate testing, improves patient-care coordination

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Allows interested parties to access data about patients, payers, and providers

Access to data becomes easier - helps with CDM

Ex: summary of pt health information, personalized recommendations of care, insights to predict patient needs

Challenges of Informatics

• Interoperability

• Regulatory mandates

• HIPAA

• Security concerns

• EHR standards can vary

Benefits of Informatics

• Manage population health

• Tailor treatment plans

• Share health data

• Development of new therapies and drugs

• Patient access to enhance patient and provider collaboration

Big Data

Large data sets that must have 4 V’s:

1. Volume

2. Velocity

3. Variety

4. Variability

Deep Learning vs Machine Learning

Deep learning: using algorithms to recognize patterns

Machine learning: using algorithms to learn from data

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Using computerized methods to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence

Uses data at a new level to enhance capabilities of CDM

Systems Thinking

An approach to problem-solving and analysis that emphasizes understanding how various components within a larger system interact with each other

Dynamic interaction between people, processes, and technology

Is the systems thinking approach more independent or dependent?

Dependent; systems are interconnected wholes (the behavior of each part depends on the behavior of others + the system as a whole)

Key Principles of System Thinking

1. Holistic Perspective Interrelationships (understand the interactions between different elements)

2. Feedback loops (outputs influence inputs)

3. Emergence (systems exhibit properties that are more than the sum of their parts)

4. Boundaries (defined boundaries to study interactions within the system)

5. Multiple perspectives (consider diverse viewpoints)

Risk Management

An organized effort to identify, assess, and reduce, where appropriate, risk to patients, visitors, staff, and organizational assets

What are some examples of risk management?

• Patient safety (falls, medication errors, etc)

• Documentation errors leading to financial or legal risks

• HR-related risks leading to personnel or legal issues

• Cybersecurity risks

Quality Improvement (QI)

A systematic, continuous process to improve processes and outcomes by identifying root causes of problems and making gradual improvements

What is the goal of quality improvement?

Achieve measurable improvements that have a lasting impact

Is QI an ongoing or fixed process?

Ongoing

PDSA Cycle - Acronym

Plan

Do

Study

Act

PDSA Cycle - Purpose & Steps

A way to test changes that are implemented

• Question and predictions

• Plan to carry out the cycle + data collection

• Carry out the plan

• Document problems and observations

• Begin data analysis

• Compare data to predictions

• Summarize what was learned

• Consider what changes need to be made for next cycle

What is the overlap/relation between risk management and quality improvement?

Patient safety

Sentinel Events

A patient safety event that reaches a patient and results in any of the following:

• Death

• Permanent harm

• Severe temporary harm and intervention required to sustain life

AKA Serious Reportable Events (SRE)

What action should be taken in the context of sentinel events?

Immediate investigation and response

Report events internally and externally to regulatory agencies