One way informatics can be especially valuable is in capturing data to inspire improvements and quality change in practice. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality collects data related to adverse events and safety concerns. If you are working within a practice setting to implement a new electronic health record system, this is just one of the many considerations your team would need to plan for during the rollout process.
1. What key information would be needed in the database that would allow you to track opportunities for care improvement?
2. What role does informatics play in the ability to capture this data?
3. Which systems and staff members would need to be involved in the design and implementation process and team?
4. What professional, ethical, and regulatory standards must be incorporated into the design and implementation of the system?
5. How would the EHR team ensure that all order sets are part of the new record?
6. How would you communicate the changes, including any kind of transition plan?
7. What measures and steps would you take to evaluate the success of the EHR implementation from a staff, setting, and patient perspective?
8. What leadership skills and theories would facilitate collaboration with the inter-professional team and provide evidence-based, patient-centered care?
