How Structured Reporting Can Lead to Better Patient Outcomes

Cardiology tool standardizes findings of past procedures and patient histories. Structured reporting systems are expected to dramatically improve patient care and data management. A coalition of 14 professional societies, led by the American College of Cardiology and by the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, estimates that only 10% of United States cardiac catheterization labs use structured reporting to improve efficiency and bolster patient outcomes.

In this HealthLeaders Q&A, MediReport co-founder and CEO Serge Makowski, MD, an interventional cardiologist, explains how unified cardiovascular information systems (CVIS) are ushering in a new era in cardiology reporting.

How does this guidance conform to best practices in clinical documentation overall? EHRs, and the standards defined by meaningful use, have specified discrete data input fields that feed into quality measures being used to implement value-based care. Do structured narratives conform to these meaningful use guidelines?