Overburdening of information results in vital details being overlooked by medical professionals, reveals research
A recent study published in the prestigious JAMA Internal Medicine journal has shed light on the growing concern of information overload from automated alerts in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, and the potential risks this poses for patient care.
The study, which surveyed 2590 doctors working in hospitals run by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, found that just under 87% of the doctors considered the volume of alerts excessive, with 70% stating they receive more alerts than they can manage. Moreover, 56% of the surveyed doctors believed that their EHR systems, as currently implemented, can lead to missing important reports.
The study, however, did not provide information on the impact of missed alerts on patient outcomes, nor did it specify the specific medical conditions or tests that triggered the automated alerts. It should be noted that the study did not establish a direct causal relationship between the volume of alerts and missed reports but found a correlation between the perception of information overload and missing reports.
The study did not provide recommendations for improving the EHR systems to reduce the perception of information overload, nor did it mention any potential solutions to reduce the excessive number of alerts from EHR systems. However, it did suggest that strategies to manage information overload and minimize the risk of important information being missed by doctors mainly focus on customizing alert delivery, improving workflow design, and enhancing usability and interoperability.
Key approaches include prioritizing and tailoring alert notifications, aligning workflows with clinical practice, using flexible technical architectures and standards, enhancing teamwork and shared information access, and implementing user-friendly system features. These strategies help reduce alert fatigue by filtering and focusing notifications, align alert management with actual clinical workflows, and foster better teamwork and communication within care teams, ultimately minimizing the risk that critical information is overlooked.
It is essential to note that the appropriate volume of alerts is relative to each individual user's preferences and perceptions. The study did not provide information on how to address the perception of information overload, but it suggested that clinical leadership involvement, continuous user feedback, and iterative workflow refinement are crucial for the successful implementation of these strategies.
Almost a third (29.8%) of the surveyed doctors reported having personally missed results that led to care delays. The study suggests that excessive automated alerts from EHR systems can cause doctors to miss important information. While the study did not specify the specific impact of missed reports on patient outcomes, it underscores the need for healthcare institutions to address the issue of information overload from EHR alerts to ensure the delivery of timely and accurate patient care.
References:
- EHR Alerts: A Systematic Review of Strategies to Reduce Alert Fatigue
- Strategies to Manage Information Overload from Electronic Health Record (EHR) Alerts
- Improving EHR Alert Management: A Systematic Review of the Literature
- Improving EHR Alert Management: A Systematic Review of the Literature
- The study, while not providing specific medical conditions or tests that triggered the automated alerts, highlights the concern of information overload in health-and-wellness, particularly within medical-conditions management, due to excessive alerts from Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
- As the study suggests, strategies to manage information overload and minimize the risk of critical information being overlooked in health-and-wellness include advancements in technology such as prioritizing and tailoring alert notifications, and improving workflow design, which can lead to more effective science in the medical field.
