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Supporting continuity of care for poisonings with electronic information exchange
(Archived Project)
Investigator (PI): Poynton, Mollie Rebecca
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): University of Utah, College of Nursing / (801) 581-3414
Supporting Agency (SA): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Initial Year: 2010
Final Year: 2012
Record Source/Award ID: RePorter/R21HS018773
Award Type: Grant
Abstract: Exchange of information between poison control centers (PCCs) and emergency departments (EDs) is almost entirely conducted via telephone. Verbal communication is a known and frequent source of medical error, especially in emergency departments, where providers are known to experience heavy communication loads with frequent interruption. Reliance on verbal communication creates substantial potential for data loss, delayed time to treatment, and medical error. There exists a potential to reduce medical error, reduce time to treatment, and improve continuity of care for poisonings with electronic information exchange between poison control centers and emergency departments. Additionally, electronic information exchange could improve and support communication, improve the availability of data and information to clinicians at the point of care, and ensure timely follow-up. This study will describe the information requirements for electronic information exchange between poison control and emergency departments in support of individual patient care and care transitions, describe current information exchange scenarios, and identify the clinical, operational, and legal considerations important for electronic information exchange between EDs and PCCs. We will use multiple approaches, including interviews with clinicians and stakeholders, review of documents, analysis of recorded poison control center calls, storyboarding, and domain analysis modeling. We will determine consensus among national experts on salient issues with a four-round Delphi study. The results of this study will provide concrete guidance for efficient research and development related to PCC-ED information exchange, including information technology solutions, standards adoption or development, and policy. Long-term implications include the study of outcomes, quality improvement innovations, and the potential for computerized decision support. Public health relevance: This study analyzes the way in which poison control centers and emergency departments share information in caring for patients who have been poisoned. It will also identify national barriers to electronic exchange of clinical information, since electronic exchange could better support care of poisoned patients by reducing medical error, and speeding treatment of poisoned patients.
MeSH Terms:
  • Communication
  • Computer Communication Networks
  • Computers
  • * Continuity of Patient Care
  • Decision Support Techniques
  • Emergency Medicine /*instrumentation
  • /methods
  • Humans
  • Medical Errors /prevention & control
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Poison Control Centers
  • Poisoning /*therapy
  • Program Development
  • Program Evaluation
  • Telephone
Country: United States
State: Utah
Zip Code: 84112
UI: 20102120
Project Status: Archived