title: Quality assessment and lipid management: considerations for computer databases for tracking patients.
abstract: Improving the quality of lipid management requires an objective assessment of current practice and the ability to monitor whether quality is improved by implementing changes in practice. In a competitive healthcare environment, documentation of quality of care and patient outcomes may be important in securing contracts. It would be almost impossible to perform a meaningful clinical-outcome analysis in a timely fashion without the support of a computerized database. However, evaluating, selecting, and implementing computerized databases can be a daunting task. Before the purchase of a database, the following steps should be performed: (1) consider and prioritize the goals for the computerized database; (2) audit charts to determine whether the existing chart format meets the current guidelines for reimbursement and medical-legal standards; (3) revise the paper chart to improve fulfillment of the goals from step 1; (4) consider the specific clinical environment, including the skill level of personnel using the system, how user-friendly the system is, whether the system is multifunctional, and the costs associated with the software and implementation. We have evaluated 3 types of computerized databases and report their strengths and weaknesses; we also briefly discuss the electronic medical record.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000628:therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids