Social Determinants of Health Measures, Baked into the EHR, Are Improving Patient Care

A Florida health system is putting social determinants of health (SDOH) right into the electronic health record problem list, where doctors can see and act on them. Spearheading this initiative is Jennifer Goldman, DO, chief of Memorial Primary Care at the six-hospital Memorial Healthcare System, based in Hollywood, Florida. In this interview with HealthLeaders, Goldman explains how SDOH is embedded in the EHR and used to improve outcomes.

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Revisiting Staff Respite Spaces

Offering staff and care providers a respite space where they can take a break from the demands of their role is a small gesture that greatly increases their satisfaction at work and directly affects the care they give to patients. The ability to rest and recharge promotes safer, more efficient operations, resulting in better outcomes and fewer medical errors. 

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Researcher: ‘The Levees Have Broken’ at Emergency Departments

The new studies examine boarding of patients in emergency departments before they are moved to inpatient beds and patients who left without being seen (LWBS), the latter presumably because of ED crowding and long wait times. The Joint Commission has deemed extended boarding of patients in the ED as a patient safety risk, with boarding recommended not to exceed four hours. Relatively high LWBS rates can have significant negative consequences for patients if they are deferring care for acute conditions.

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Meeting Patient Needs Where They Need It Most

California-based Adventist Health and value-based medical group Emcara Health have partnered recently to extend care into high-risk communities across the state. As part of the Enhanced Care Initiative from CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal), this partnership is intended to close care gaps for patients facing the most complex care needs by addressing barriers such as homelessness and other social determinants of health.

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Three Must-Have Features in Modern Custom EHR Systems

Although the healthcare industry has used EHRs for a long time, these systems are constantly being redesigned to meet the challenges of the times as well as become more helpful for providers. In this article, we will explore the changes that custom EHR systems have seen recently, and how they help overcome the challenges brought about by the pandemic and other significant healthcare events.

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How Behavioral ‘Nudges’ Help Patient Engagement—and Improve Provider Experience

A new JAMA Network Open study has found that patient engagement technology can significantly increase the number of patients who get, and stay, vaccinated. By using text reminders, automated vaccine reservations, and other techniques like links to vaccine verification, providers can leverage technology to keep patients engaged and healthy as the industry continues to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.   

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Addressing Rural Healthcare Disparities With Patient Movement Data

As the conversation turns to rebuilding the resiliency of our healthcare system, disparities in care are top of mind for many organizations. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as on rural and poor populations, has shown the extent of our healthcare accessibility gaps.

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