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Electronic patient record project increases clinic efficiency
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Dr. Stephen Griffin |
The Office of Clinical Affairs has been working with other departments to implement the Electronic Patient Record Project, a two-phase venture designed to streamline patient records and radiography.
The first phase of the project, which was completed in January 2007, included converting radiographs to a digital format and installing computers in each operatory for speedy viewing. In the past, computers were located at strategic locations in clinic and student-use areas. Clinicians are now able to serve patients more efficiently with nearly immediate access to radiographic images.
“The transition was virtually seamless to the patients as radiographs are taken much the same way as before, just processed through a digital scanner rather than a film processor,” says Dr. Stephen Griffin, director of clinics. “The imaging software provides many ways to enhance an image, which results in less retakes of radiographs that otherwise might not have been of diagnostic quality.”
Griffin, who serves as project manager for the clinic upgrades, applauds the teamwork of Facilities Services, the Office of Information Technology, the Office of Clinical Affairs and the Department of Radiology for the cooperative effort that allowed the project’s timely and successful completion.
The second phase of the project, the Electronic Health Record, consists of replacing current patient charts with fully-electronic files and is scheduled to be in place by the start of summer clinic in June 2007. Upon completion, all patient records will be in electronic format and little to no paper will be used in the treatment of patients at Baylor College of Dentistry.
“The Electronic Health Record provides an opportunity to improve quality of care and patient safety,” says Griffin. “The EHR can decrease charting time and errors and eliminate mistakes made from unintelligible notes. Chart chasing is eliminated as is duplication of data entry on various forms.”
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