Abstract
Objective. This study tested the ability of an electronic prompt to promote an asthma assessment during primary care visits. Methods. We performed a prospective study of all eligible adult patients with previously diagnosed asthma in three geographically distinct ambulatory family medicine clinics within a 4-month period. The usual clinic visit process was performed at two geographically distinct control sites (n = 75 and n = 55 patients, respectively). The intervention group site (n = 64) had an electronic flag embedded in the Patient Check-in Locator field which prompted the distribution of a self-administered Asthma Management Questionnaire (AMQ) in the waiting room. The primary outcome measure was a documented asthma severity assessment. Results. The front desk distributed the AMQ successfully in 100% of possible opportunities and the AMQ was completed by 84% of patients. Providers in the intervention group were significantly more likely than providers in the two non-intervention groups to document asthma severity in the medical record during a non-asthma ambulatory clinic visit (63.3% vs. 18.7% vs. 3.6%; p < .001). Conclusion. The provision of standardized asthma information triggered by an electronic prompt at the time of check-in effectively initiates an asthma assessment during the primary care visits.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 213-218 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Asthma |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2012 |
Keywords
- Asthma
- Electronic prompt
- Point of service
- Quality improvement
- Standardized practice
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Immunology and Allergy
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine