Community clinical data exchange for emergency medicine patients.
Little is known about the opportunities for a community clinical data exchange network to influence patient care. Rates of patient "cross-over" among different institutions can provide one estimate of the additional value such systems have over unconnected, independent institutional electronic medical records. The Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC) represents such a system, involving a collaboration of central Indiana hospitals to improve patient care. During a one year study period, 288,696 patients made 471,640 Emergency Department (ED) visits within the INPC collaboration -- accounting for 92% of all Indianapolis ED visits. Overall 25% of the patients with more than one visit also visited one of the other five hospital systems, accounting for 19% of all visits. Our results help clarify the expected frequency within one large metropolitan area that ED patients could obtain direct benefit from a community clinical data exchange network.
Finnell
John T
JT
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Overhage
J Marc
JM
Dexter
Paul R
PR
Perkins
Susan M
SM
Lane
Kathleen A
KA
McDonald
Clement J
CJ
D019058:Community Networks; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*