The ExpectED Project
Sending a patient to an emergency department (ED) is a major medical decision that can create a lot of turmoil and frustration for both patients and physicians. Internal research has found that primary care physicians believe that they can provide valuable “handoff” information to the ED staff, but are often frustrated that it is difficult to actually do so since it is often still based on a phone call and a hand-written note (often called an "Expect Note"). The patients are frustrated that their physician’s insight is not always readily available to the new doctors they are seeing. The result can mean inefficiencies, decreased quality, and bad experiences.
To help improve this issue, the SHIP worked together with the ED to create a more efficient and consistent way for physicians to notify the ED about incoming patients. Specifically, we designed and launched a web-based tool that allows a physician to fill out an online form with all the relevant information needed: who is coming in, when they should arrive, what is going on, and how and when to contact the physician. The ED registration staff will then monitor a specially designed web-based inbox that holds all these messages. When the patient arrives, they will print out the message, thus ensuring the ED physicians have a legible and consistent note with information that can help them deliver more efficient and higher quality care. The end result is a better experience for both the patient and the physicians involved in their care.
Launched in the Spring of 2008.
The Inflection Navigator Project
Intensive caring for the outpatient. Imagine you were told you had a new and serious disorder such as cancer- you didn't need to be admitted to the hospital, but you will need to set up 3 tests, see 2 specialists and go to some website to find out more info - all in the next week. You probably didn't hear anything after "Cancer". So what if your physician was able to immediately register you in a new program in which someone will contact you in the next 24 hours and set everything up for you and make sure it was done in a timely, efficient and complete manner - all at no cost to you. That's what we are going to try and do...
Initial launch planned before the end of 2008.
Better User Interfaces
One of the main complaints about electronic medical record (EMR) systems is that they are not easy or intuitive for physicians to use- the result being potential inefficiencies and problems with quality of care. We intent to think way outside the traditional EMR box and come up with prototypes for a wide range of user interfaces to better support the real world needs of care providers.
Online patient portals or personal health records have not gained true adoption due to the fact that they are not consistently useful for patients. We want to design interfaces that are highly useful for patients, especially if they have multiple complex issues.
Initial prototypes planned before the end of 2008