title: Leveraging the Value of Human Relationships to Improve Health Outcomes. Lessons learned from the OpenMRS Electronic Health Record System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite significant awareness on the value of leveraging patient relationships across the healthcare continuum, there is no research on the potential of using Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to store structured patient relationship data, or its impact on enabling better healthcare. We sought to identify which EHR systems supported effective patient relationship data collection, and for systems that do, what types of relationship data is collected, how this data is used, and the perceived value of doing so.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature search to identify EHR systems that supported patient relationship data collection. Based on our results, we defined attributes of an effective patient relationship model. The Open Medical Record System (OpenMRS), an open source medical record platform for underserved settings met our eligibility criteria for effective patient relationship collection. We performed a survey to understand how the OpenMRS patient relationship model was used, and how it brought value to implementers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The OpenMRS patient relationship model has won widespread adoption across many implementations and is perceived to be valuable in enabling better health care delivery. Patient relationship information is widely used for community health programs and enabling chronic care. Additionally, many OpenMRS implementers were using this feature to collect custom relationship types for implementation specific needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that flexible patient relationship data collection is critical for better healthcare, and can inform community care and chronic care initiatives across the world. Additionally, patient relationship data could also be leveraged for many other initiatives such as patient centric care and in the field of precision medicine.
authors.affiliation: Suranga N. Kasthurirathne, Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing, Indianapolis, IN, Email: snkasthu@iupui.edu.
authors.forename: Suranga N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Kasthurirathne
authors.forename: Burke W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mamlin
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cullen
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations
keywords: Electronic health records and systems; care coordination; chronic disease; family relations; parent-child relations; patient-centered care; professional-family relations