Integrated EHR Enables Shift to Virtual Post-Discharge Follow-Up

A recent study published in the American Journal of Managed Care found that provider use of a shared inpatient-outpatient electronic health record was associated with a shift toward follow-up delivered through a combination of telemedicine and outpatient laboratory tests, with no differences in 30-day emergency department visits.

"Timely availability of clinical information during health care transitions, in a setting with robust telemedicine access, can shift the method of care delivery without adversely affecting patient health outcomes," wrote the researchers. The integrated EHR automatically includes patient history and clinical information with the outpatient EHR used by primary care providers and specialists, including order-entry capability for follow-up, medication reconciliation, secure messaging and notifications to outpatient providers that patients had been hospitalized.