EHRs as Clinical Decision Support Tools

October 23, 2023 • 3 minute read

In the course of your day as a physician, your workspace is inundated with an extensive stream of information. Patient histories, lab results, medication lists, and treatment plans—all crucial components of the healthcare puzzle—demand your attention. The manual synthesis and timely implementation of this data, without delays or errors, can be a complex and incredibly […]

In the course of your day as a physician, your workspace is inundated with an extensive stream of information. Patient histories, lab results, medication lists, and treatment plans—all crucial components of the healthcare puzzle—demand your attention. The manual synthesis and timely implementation of this data, without delays or errors, can be a complex and incredibly demanding task.

However, as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) evolve to encompass more capabilities, they have emerged as indispensable tools for healthcare providers. These robust systems now enhanced with Clinical Decision Support (CDS) functionalities, play a pivotal role in supporting and validating decision-making. They empower providers with increased confidence in their choices, all while drawing from a wealth of data and patient histories meticulously recorded and monitored over time.

The Integration of Clinical Decision Support in EHRs

Clinical Decision Support refers to the use of computer-based tools and systems to assist healthcare professionals in making informed and timely decisions about patient care. These tools are designed to provide clinicians with relevant clinical information, guidelines, and recommendations at the point of care. 

This integration of CDS functionalities has evolved to become integral in EHRs, extending their purpose beyond mere data recording. As a result, they contribute significantly to reducing liabilities for providers, expediting the delivery of timely care, and facilitating smoother post-acute transitions.

Key Components of Clinical Decision Support

  • Comprehensive Patient Data: CDS systems gather and integrate a wide range of patient data, including medical history, lab results, allergy information, medication lists, and more from EHRs and other sources.
  • Rules and Algorithms: They employ predefined rules and algorithms that analyse patient data to identify potential issues, patterns, or discrepancies.
  • Alerts and Reminders: CDS systems generate alerts and reminders for healthcare providers. These can range from medication dosing alerts to vaccination reminders, ensuring that critical tasks are not overlooked.
  • Clinical Guidelines: Many CDS systems incorporate clinical guidelines and evidence-based recommendations into their algorithms. These guidelines are sourced from reputable medical literature and organisations to support best practices in healthcare.
  • Data Visualisation: Some CDS tools present data in a visual format, making it easier for clinicians to interpret complex information. Graphs, charts, and dashboards can help in the decision-making process.
  • Customisation: CDS systems often allow customization to align with the specific needs and preferences of healthcare organisations, individual clinicians and their patients. 

Benefits of Clinical Decision Support Systems

Enhanced Patient Safety

One of the primary ways CDS systems enhance patient safety is by providing timely alerts. 

Imagine a scenario where you prescribed medication to a patient with a severe allergy to one of its ingredients, unbeknownst to you. Before the prescription is finalised, the CDS system intervenes, flashing a warning signal to you, alerting you of this potentially life-threatening error and protecting the patient from harm.

Dosage errors, too, fall under the vigilant gaze of CDS. It ensures that medications are administered at the correct doses, reducing the risk of over or under medication. This precision is especially crucial in critical care settings.

Improved Clinical Efficiency

Clinical Decision Support systems come to the rescue by streamlining workflows and providing the right information at the right time

In the pre-CDS era, reviewing a complex patient’s medical history would entail an arduous search through paper records or electronic files, taking up a significant length of time. With CDS however, relevant patient information is at the physician’s fingertips, allowing for quicker decision-making.

Additionally, CDS tools assist healthcare providers in prioritising tasks. They can efficiently identify high-priority cases, ensuring that urgent matters receive immediate attention. This not only saves time but also contributes to better patient outcomes.

Evidence-Based Care

A physician faced with a complex diagnosis relies on CDS systems to provide access to the most recent research findings, clinical guidelines, and treatment options. This empowers the physician to make decisions rooted in the latest evidence, optimising patient care.

Furthermore, CDS tools contribute to the standardisation of care practices across healthcare organisations. By ensuring that clinicians have access to current guidelines, they aid in reducing variations in care, leading to more consistent and effective treatments.

Population Health Management

Beyond individual patient care, Clinical Decision Support systems excel in analysing data across patient populations, paving the way for proactive healthcare strategies.

For instance, a healthcare organisation aiming to improve preventive care measures for a specific condition can use CDS to analyse data from EHRs to identify at-risk populations, track trends, and identify areas that require intervention.

This data-driven approach enables healthcare organisations to implement preventive measures before conditions escalate, ultimately, contributing to better population health management, reducing the burden on healthcare systems and improving the overall well-being of communities.

Clinical Decision Support in Action

A stellar illustration of supported clinical decision making in practice is a pilot project conducted by the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board using   Meddbase. Through this initiative, the Board harnessed the power of CDS to efficiently identify patients at risk of Type 2 Diabetes within selected practices in the region.

Applying predefined criteria, the system effectively selected these patients and initiated contact with them via SMS, all on the Meddbase platform, emphasising the significance of a comprehensive healthcare management solution. 

The result of the program was a 1000% increase in patient referrals to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

To read more about this successful pilot, download the whitepaper here.


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