This study was intended to test the effects of adding a one-on-one educational intervention taught by a physician to a physician during their clinical work to improve their acceptance and satisfaction with a new inpatient electronic health record and ordering system.
This study was a randomized, parallel , non- blinded controlled trial of real-time, focused educational interventions in an intervention arm compared with usual training and support in the control arm. Improvement in performance, defined as the time between opening and closing a progress note, and number of notes completed after shift , were the primary outcomes. Physician satisfaction was a secondary outcome. Participants from one 550-bed Academic Independent Medical Center were invited to participate if they were full-time hospitalists or residents in internal medicine with no prior experience with the EPIC electronic health record.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
44
Physicians in the experimental arm were visited by a instructing physician at a computer while performing clinical duties who had observed others to identify best practices. Instructors watched subjects' work, looking for a specific tip that could be applied to the current work, then demonstrated the tip, and answered any questions the subject had about using or applying this new technique .
Usual training included online e-modules, 12 hours of classroom time, practice in the EPIC Playground, user acceptability training classes,non-physician technical support on all of the floors, and a physician-only help line.
Reading Health System
West Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Time to complete a progress note
the primary outcome measure will be time to complete a progress note. this is defined as the difference between the recorded time of opening the note and the recorded time the note was signed in the EPIC electronic health record system.
Time frame: within 1 week of note completion
Number of notes completed after shift
Shifts are 7 a.m. - 7 p.m for doctors assigned to daytime work. We defined a note completed after shift as any note with a signed time that is after 7 p.m. on the day of a shift worked.
Time frame: within 1 week of posting note
Physician Satisfaction with EPIC Electronic Health Record
We asked the participants this question: How comfortable are you specifically using the EPIC program for inpatient practice?" at baseline, midpoint (after working 15-20 shifts), and end of the study (after working 35-40 shifts).
Time frame: at baseline, 15-20 shifts, and 35-40 shifts
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