Question

The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to develop a framework for the development of a database that would support a Post-operative Follow-Up Module in an Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Please read the article contained in this link and answer the following questions: [Article about Structured Vs. Unstructured Data].

1. What are the critical issues that Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) staff must address when contemplating the development of a Post-operative Follow-Up Module?

2. When considering the issue of recording post-operative complications, should the clinical staff rely more on structure or unstructured data? Please provide a rationale for your answer. Please see Reading Assignment – Week 03 for a discussion on the merits of structured versus unstructured data.

3. What hesitations might IT Staff express when considering the prospect of developing a module for the collection of post-operative discharge follow-up data in an Ambulatory Surgical Center?   Might the anticipated replacement of the entire legacy EHR system in approximately 18 months factor into the decision of the IT staff with regard to this project?

Answer 1

What are the critical issues that Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) staff must address when contemplating the development of a Post-operative Follow-Up Module?

Discharge from PACU

Adapted from Table 85-14: Criteria for Determination of Discharge Score for Release from the Postanesthesia Care UnitActivity: Able to move four extremities on command: 2. Able to move two extremities on command: 1. Able to move 0 extremities on command: 0.

Nursing interventions include monitoring vital signs, airway patency, and neurologic status; managing pain; assessing the surgical site; assessing and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance; and providing a thorough report of the patient's status to the receiving nurse on the unit, as well as the patient's family

When considering the issue of recording post-operative complications, should the clinical staff rely more on structure or unstructured data?

This assessment should include the intraoperative history and post-operative instructions, circulatory volume status, respiratory status and cognitive state. Common causes of confusion in the postoperative period include infection, hypoxia, sedatives and other medications such as anticholinergics.

Structured data is highly-organized and formatted in a way so it's easily searchable in relational databases. Unstructured data has no pre-defined format or organization, making it much more difficult to collect, process, and analyze.

What hesitations might IT Staff express when considering the prospect of developing a module for the collection of post-operative discharge follow-up data in an Ambulatory Surgical Center?

Smartphone technology appears to be the next phase of development in telemedicine. With the increased focus on patient-centred care, mobile technology is being used to connect patients and their health care teams. Numerous mobile applications are available that can assist with both surgical and medical interventions, as well as with behavioural changes in smoking cessation and weight management.Mobile applications can help patients self-manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and congestive heart failure by providing an opportunity to enter their own data and symptoms on their smartphone that can be relayed in real time to the care team.

Might the anticipated replacement of the entire legacy EHR system in approximately 18 months factor into the decision of the IT staff with regard to this project?

The Basics

Several studies estimate the cost of purchasing and installing an electronic health record ( EHR ) ranges from $15,000 to $70,000 per provider. Costs vary depending on whether you select on-site EHR deployment or web-based EHR deployment.

Electronic medical records improve quality of care, patient outcomes, and safety through improved management, reduction in medication errors, reduction in unnecessary investigations, and improved communication and interactions among primary care providers, patients, and other providers involved in care.