Leveraging EHR Technology to Improve Diagnosis

Diagnostic errors can lead to gaps in care that threaten patient safety and health. To address this challenge, Kaiser Permanente, which provides care to 12.2 million patients and members and includes the largest consortium of private medical groups in the United States, has pioneered technology-enabled programs called SureNets that improve diagnosis of certain conditions.

Powered by the organization’s robust electronic health record (EHR), the SureNets have been so successful that Kaiser Permanente has partnered with safety leaders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston to develop a similar tool, called Ambulatory Safety Net.

Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry recently published a story on how several Permanente Medical Groups and Brigham and Women’s – the teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School – deploy electronic programs to improve diagnostic care.

These new automated programs scan EHRs to identify potential safety issues. The story describes several PMGs’ SureNets that identify a range of health issues, including chronic kidney disease, heart disease, prostate cancer, and lung cancer. The story also covers a BWH electronic program for lung nodule imaging follow-up and the organization’s plans for additional programs for lung and colon cancer.

To see the entire story, visit Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry’s site.