Construction of the mechanism to support accurate recording and information transfer in an electronic critical path

−Block-calendar labeling/relation file/common clinical recording−

Abstract

In Kagawa Rosai hospital, various improvements were done on the critical path software to incorporate the needs of the medical staff since the introduction of physician order entry system in 2004, and the introduction of the electronic medical record in 2007. As a result, 504 critical paths are currently being used covering approximately 95% of the discharged patients, and the critical path has become an indispensable tool to daily clinical activities.

However, there are still areas in need of improvement and this time we have focused to amend the following inconveniences newly pointed out by the staff:

1) The record overview is larger than the current overview screen and needs to be scrolled.

2) The document currently used for patient explanation or education for medical staff is not co-related with each critical path.

3) Record of orders categorized outside of order-entry system is inadequate.

The amendments incorporated at this time are to set up：1) block-calendar labeling, 2) related files index, 3) common clinical record.

This paper reports the effects of the above mentioned improvement to our critical path.