Integrating best evidence into patient care: a process facilitated by a seamless integration with informatics too

Three faculty members associated with the Vanderbilt University medical library have published a paper on how they added value to their institution’s electronic medical record system.

The electronic medical record system now goes beyond linking resources to being an interactive tool for needed clinical information. Now, ” [c]linical teams formulate complex patient-specific questions via an evidence-based medicine literature request basket linked to individual patient records. …

Additionally, their are options for patients. “The portal offers a variety of interactive features including the ability to message a physician, schedule appointments, and request prescription refills. Patients can also view their billing and insurance records and set up third-party access to their own Vanderbilt medical records.”…

“The most popular part of KM’s integration into MHAV is the links to explanatory information about lab test results. Patients can click on the name of most lab tests and link to consumer-level information explaining what the lab test means and how to interpret the results vis-à-vis standard values. Additionally, links are provided for explanatory information on vital signs and immunizations.