title: Graphical timeline software for inpatient medication review.
abstract: MedHistory is a web-based software module that graphically displays medication usage (y-axis) against time (x-axis). We set out to examine whether MedHistory would improve clinician's interactions with the medical record system. The authors invited house-officers at our institution to complete a survey about inpatient medication administration before and after using MedHistory. Detailed logs were also kept for 1 year after the study period. Compared to the pre-intervention survey, the post-intervention survey found that reviewing medication history was easier (pre: 13.2% vs post: 32.4%, p = .008), that medication review now fit within resident workflow (38.9% vs 75.7%, p < .001), and that there was increased satisfaction with the electronic health records software (2.6% vs 29.7%, p = .002). Additionally, determining the timing (29% vs 50.1%, p = .045) and dosing history (21.1% vs. 43.2%, p = .036) of inpatient medication administration was easier with MedHistory. Anti-infective agents and drugs requiring frequent adjustments were the most commonly reviewed. A graphical timeline of inpatient medications (MedHistory) was met with favorable response across multiple areas, including efficiency, speed, safety, and workflow.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: Ishir
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bhan
mesh_terms: D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D020407:Internet; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D059065:Medication Reconciliation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D012985:Software Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: data visualization; electronic medical records; medication administration