Development of a Model Electronic Health Record Format for Children - 2010
Target Population: Medicaid, Pediatric*
Summary: Existing electronic health record (EHR) systems typically are designed, implemented, and used with an adult patient population in mind and therefore, often do not optimally support the provision of health care to children. Special medical and other considerations that arise in pediatric patient care are often missing or poorly supported.
Westat is collaborating with several organizations to develop and disseminate a model EHR format for children enrolled in Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Programs. The “format” refers to the various requirements around data elements and standards, usability, functionality and interoperability. The project team is working to understand how the model format, its structure and content can be used to develop new or enhance existing EHR products to help providers optimize health care for children. The goals of this project will be supported by a technical expert panel to ensure broad stakeholder input at every stage of the project. Two Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act grantees also will test and evaluate the format’s impact on quality and cost of care outcomes.
The outcome of this project will identify core elements of an EHR for children that can be incorporated into vendor systems, and will provide guidance to users of EHRs about the ideal functionality of EHRs for children.
Project Objectives:- Conduct an environmental scan and gap analysis. (Achieved)
- Develop a model EHR format for children that can be used readily (Ongoing)
- Package the EHR format in a way that facilitates broad incorporation into EHR systems. (Upcoming)
2010 Activities: The focus of activity was on conducting the environmental scan and gap analysis. Development of the model EHR format is also underway.
Preliminary Impact and Findings: The environmental scan and gap analysis suggest that existing EHR systems and products lack a number of functionalities related to over 30 topic areas (e.g., growth data, newborn screening, medication management, etc.) related to the treatment of children and for which the project is currently developing requirements.
Strategic Goal: Develop and disseminate health IT evidence and evidence-based tools to improve health care decisionmaking through the use of integrated data and knowledge management.
Business Goal: Knowledge Creation