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Am J Perinatol 2012; 29(04): 251-258
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1285102
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Implementation of Health Information Technology to Maximize Efficiency of Resource Utilization in a Geographically Dispersed Prenatal Care Delivery System

Marlo Baker Cochran
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
,
Russell R. Snyder
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
,
Elizabeth Thomas
3   Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas
,
Daniel H. Freeman
2   Office of Biostatistics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
,
Gary D.V. Hankins
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

21 April 2011

17 June 2011

Publication Date:
01 August 2011 (online)

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Abstract

This study investigated the utilization of health information technology (HIT) to enhance resource utilization in a geographically dispersed tertiary care system with extensive outpatient and delivery services. It was initiated as a result of a systems change implemented after Hurricane Ike devastated southeast Texas. A retrospective database and electronic medical record review was performed, which included data collection from all patients evaluated 18 months prior (epoch I) and 18 months following (epoch II) the landfall of Hurricane Ike. The months immediately following the storm were omitted from the analysis, allowing time to establish a new baseline. We analyzed a total of 21,201 patients evaluated in triage at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Epoch I consisted of 11,280 patients and epoch II consisted of 9922 patients. Using HIT, we were able to decrease the number of visits to triage while simultaneously managing more complex patients in the outpatient setting with no clinically significant change in maternal or fetal outcome. This study developed an innovated model of care using constrained resources while providing quality and safety to our patients without additional cost to the health care delivery system.

Keywords

health information technology - electronic medical record - systems change
 

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