Workflow Analysis of a Clinical Setting
In a clinical setting, the workflow for a typical patient care episode requires exchange between clinical and administrative personnel. IT helps with supporting this exchange by assisting with more efficient data access and retrieval and the potential for improved patient satisfaction. A typical patient care episode would look like this: it begins with patient admission. When a patient arrives at the clinic, he is greeted by the receptionist, who verifies his identity and insurance information. The receptionist then enters the patient's details into the EHR system as staff makes sure all necessary forms are filled out and consent given. These are the initial steps needed before the patients clinical assessment can begin (Ozkaynak et al., 2022).
The next phase of the workflow is the assessment and triage conducted by the nursing staff. A nurse calls the patient and escorts him to the examination room, where blood pressure, temperature, and other vitals are recorded. The nurse documents...
All of this is necessary for determining the urgency of the patient's condition and establishing priority.
Following the assessment, the patient is seen by a physician for a clinical examination. The physician reviews the patient's EHR, including the nurse's notes and the patient's medical history. The physician then conducts a physical examination and could order diagnostic tests such as blood tests or X-rays. The physician might at this time discuss...
…access for all clinical and administrative personnel. Automated systems for uploading diagnostic test results directly into the EHR can reduce delays and manual errors. A patient portal where patients can view their medical records, tests, follow-up appointments, etc., and communicate with
healthcare providers would also help. Scheduling software can automate appointment bookings, send out reminders about follow-ups, and allow for re-schedulings.
Overall, it is important to use IT in the clinical setting to support workflow, as this allows for coordinated care, better communication, improved patient satisfaction, and efficient care delivery. A good EHR system can support the whole process from start to finish.
References
Diaz-Garelli, F., Strowd, R., Ahmed, T., Lycan Jr, T. W., Daley, S., Wells, B. J., & Topaloglu,
U. (2021). What oncologists want:…
