A Study to Determine Consensus for Nursing Documentation Reduction in Times of Crisis.

Nurses faced numerous challenges during the pandemic, particularly with the increased burden of electronic documentation. Surges in patient volume and visits led to rapid changes in nursing documentation, prompting diverse responses from regulatory and healthcare organizations. Nurses expressed safety concerns and struggled with changes, calling for national standards and regulatory support. Policy relaxations, such as the 1135 Waiver, sparked debate on the future of nursing care plan documentation. Using mixed-methods exploratory design, the study identified modifications of nursing documentation during crises, commonalities in documentation burden reduction for applicability beyond pandemics, and consensus on the definition of "surge." Documentation patterns were assessed from February to November 2022, involving 175 North American nurse leaders and informaticists. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Significant differences were found between rural and urban settings (P = .02), with urban areas showing higher odds of changes to care plans (odds ratio, 4.889; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-18.78). Key findings highlighted the persistence of postcrisis documentation changes and varied definitions of surge criteria based on organizational leadership, policy, and mandates. The study yielded insights for modifying documentation, offering policy recommendations, and emphasizing ongoing collaboration and evidence-based approaches for future nursing practices.

Validation of a Tool to Evaluate Nursing Students' Electronic Health Record Competency in Simulation.

AIM: The aim of the study was to establish reliability and validity of the Competency Assessment in Simulation of Electronic Health Records (CASE) tool. BACKGROUND: Effective teaching and learning practices, including valid and reliable assessment of students' electronic health record (EHR) competency, contribute to safe, high-quality, efficient nursing care. METHOD: The study used a mixed-methods design to test reliability and validity of the CASE tool. RESULTS: A nationally representative sample of faculty from universities representing 27 states provided scores for videos using the CASE tool. Forty-seven participants completed the first scoring survey; 22 of the 47 participants (47%) completed the second-round scoring. Intraclass correlation for the final score between the first and second responses shows the consistency of test-retest reliability (ICC = .78, p < .001). CONCLUSION: The CASE tool provided evidence of validity and reliability in evaluating EHR competency in simulation.

Preparing for the Future: Establishing a National Consensus on Nursing Crisis Documentation.

Clinicians across the globe face overwhelming dissatisfaction and burden with electronic health records due to poor usability and the sheer volume of data collection requirements. In the United States, electronic health records are noted to be a principal source of distress, dissatisfaction, and endless workarounds, leading to poor clinician performance and, ultimately, poor patient outcomes. The purpose of this article is to present a detailed review of a 2020 Texas pilot study. The study's focus was the engagement of nursing informatics experts from around the state to gain consensus on nursing documentation's current status and if plans were being developed to modify or decrease documentation, specifically to alleviate burden during a time of crisis. The study consisted of subject matter expert focus groups, a high-level Delphi for instrument development, and the implementation of the statewide instrument to gain consensus. Ultimately, the research team learned that there were gaps in not only what documentation could be removed (either temporarily or permanently) but also what standards dictate the use of crisis documentation (ie, "surge" criteria). The study findings discussed in this article will inform improvement strategies and policy recommendations to increase the value and usability of crisis nursing documentation requirements.

Electronic Health Record Maturity Matters! Texas Nurses Speak Out in Their Second Statewide Study.

With the passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act in 2009, Texas nurses were faced with the rapid uptake of technology driven by this legislation. Texas Nurses Association and Texas Organization for Nursing Leadership formed a partnership to collectively track the impact on practicing nurses. The Health IT Committee was commissioned to evaluate the changing health information technology environment and associated solutions. As such, a study in 2015, entitled "Statewide Study Assessing the Experiences of Nurses with their Electronic Health Records," was conducted. The follow-up study in 2020 was conducted to compare 2015 and 2020 findings to identify improvements made on nurses' satisfaction with EHRs and identify improvement opportunities. The study design was an exploratory descriptive comparative analysis with a cross-sectional survey from a random sample of Texas nurses for the two study periods of 2015 (n = 1177) and 2020 (n = 1117). The Clinical Information Systems Implementation Evaluation Scale and a demographic survey including the Meaningful Use Maturity-Sensitive Index were the measurement instruments. Results and key covariates are discussed along with recommendations for achieving more mature EHRs and more mature organizational culture and leadership.

Scoping review: Positive and negative impact of technology on clinicians.

BACKGROUND: Unnecessary electronic health record (EHRs) documentation burden and usability issues have negatively impacted clinician well-being (e.g., burnout and moral distress). PURPOSE: This scoping review was conducted by members from three expert panels of the American Academy of Nurses to generate consensus on the evidence of both positive and negative impact of EHRs on clinicians. METHODS: The scoping review was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. RESULTS: The scoping review captured 1,886 publications screened against title and abstract 1,431 excluded, examined 448 in a full-text review, excluded 347 with 101 studies informing the final review. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest few studies that have explored the positive impact of EHRs and more studies that have explored the clinician's satisfaction and work burden. Significant gaps were identified in associating distress to use of EHRs and minimal studies on EHRs' impact on nurses. CONCLUSION: Examined the evidence of HIT's positive and negative impacts on clinician's practice, clinicians work environment, and if psychological impact differed among clinicians.

Usability and the Rapid Deployable Infectious Disease Decision Support System.

Health information technology-guided clinical decision support has demonstrated decreases in patient safety errors in the electronic health record. Unknown and re-emerging infectious diseases are a growing concern for many healthcare facilities. The purpose of this project was to develop a modular approach to integrate rapid deployment of clinical decision support for infectious diseases into the clinical workflow and evaluate the usability of the design. This article reports on the results of a quality improvement project to develop, implement, and evaluate rapid deployment of a clinical decision support module using a tuberculosis use case. Important lessons learned from the electronic health record build with previous Ebola and Zika decision support alert strategy are discussed as foundational in guiding the overall design, implementation, and evaluation of improvement strategies. Subject matter expert feedback was sought throughout the project for electronic health record design and build considerations. Usability evaluation was conducted using the classic Task, User, Representation, and Function unified framework of electronic health record usability. Usability satisfaction for both providers and nurses remained high. Tuberculosis cases pre-alert and post-alert had decreased order times for diagnostic studies. Results suggest satisfied clinicians coupled with usable systems create a more efficient workflow resulting in safer and timelier diagnostic testing.

Digitizing Infectious Disease Clinical Guidelines for Improved Clinician Satisfaction.

The purpose of this project was to implement an improved rapid-deployment clinical decision support strategy for the detection and treatment of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases within an electronic health record informed by end-user satisfaction. After a review of the evidence and comprehensive workflow assessments, interdisciplinary focus groups were assembled to determine current infectious disease needs within the electronic health record and what guidance should be provided to clinicians to assist in making the best decisions for both patient care and population health. Education and reeducation issues were handled throughout the implementation process. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement framework for rapid cycle deployment, the design was implemented and monitored. To evaluate efficacy and clinician satisfaction of the implementation, presurvey and postsurvey measurements were employed. The Clinical Information System Implementation Evaluation Scale was used, along with demographic and qualitative textual questions, to evaluate clinician satisfaction. Findings indicate the implementation was successful (P < .05).

Competency Assessment in Simulation of Electronic Health Records Tool Development.

Rapid deployment of electronic health records has resulted in a need for simulation centers to integrate the use of electronic health records into simulation-based learning activities within the clinical workflow. To assess the quality of the documentation in the electronic health record, the Competency Assessment in Simulation of Electronic Health Records Tool was developed. Lynn's method of content validity, combined with nominal group and Delphi techniques, was used to identify 15 domains of best practice in documentation. Participants with expertise in academic education, simulation, and informatics provided input into the development of the tool. The tool evolved over three rounds of Delphi that refined the language and provided anchors to promote accurate assessment of student and nurse documentation. The results of the Delphi narrowed the 15 domains down to 10 domains for scoring best practices in electronic documentation within simulation-based learning activities. The Competency Assessment in Simulation of Electronic Health Records Tool was developed to address the electronic health record competencies of both nursing students and practicing nurses in a simulation environment.

Statewide Study to Assess Nurses' Experiences With Meaningful Use-Based Electronic Health Records.

Nursing professionals are at the frontline of the health information technology revolution. The Texas Nurses Association and Texas Organization of Nurse Executives partnered to evaluate the changing health technology environment in Texas, in particular the nurses' satisfaction with the use of clinical information systems. A descriptive exploratory study using the Clinical Information System Implementation Evaluation Scale and a newly developed Demographic Survey and the Meaningful Use Maturity-Sensitive Index, with a narrative component, was conducted in 2014 and 2015. Nurses across Texas received an electronic invitation to participate in the survey, resulting in 1177 respondents. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that variables of the Meaningful Use Maturity-Sensitive Index and Clinical Information System Implementation Evaluation Scale show strong interrater reliability, with Cronbach's α scores of .889 and .881, respectively, and thereby inform the survey analysis, indicating and explaining variations in regional and institutional trends with respect to satisfaction. For example, the maturity of a clinical information system within an organization and age of the nurse significantly influence the probability of nurse satisfaction (P < .05). Qualitative analysis of nurses' narratives further explained the nurses' experiences. Recommendations for future research and educational were identified.

Emergency medical services management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in the United States--a report from the American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Program.

OBJECTIVE: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Emergency medical services (EMS) agencies play a critical role in its initial identification and treatment. We conducted this study to assess EMS management of STEMI care in the United States. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to leaders of EMS agencies to define the elements of STEMI care related to 4 core measures: (1) electrocardiogram (ECG) capability at the scene, (2) destination protocols, (3) catheterization laboratory activation before hospital arrival, and (4) 12-lead ECG quality review. Geographic areas were grouped into large metropolitan, small metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (or rural) by using Urban Influence Codes, with a stratified analysis. RESULTS: Data were included based on responses from 5296 EMS agencies (36% of those in the United States) serving 91% of the US population, with at least 1 valid response from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 63% of agencies obtained ECGs at the scene using providers trained in ECG acquisition and interpretation. A total of 46% of EMS systems used protocols to determine hospital destination, cardiac catheterization laboratory activation, and communications with the receiving hospital. More than 75% of EMS systems used their own agency funds to purchase equipment, train personnel, and provide administrative oversight. A total of 49% of agencies have quality review programs in place. In general, EMS systems covering higher population densities had easier access to resources needed to maintain STEMI systems of care. Emergency medical services systems that have adopted all 4 core elements cover 14% of the US population. CONCLUSIONS: There are large differences in EMS systems of STEMI care in the United States. Most EMS agencies have implemented at least 1 of the 4 core elements of STEMI care, with many having implemented multiple elements.

Perspectives on the implementation of health informatics curricula frameworks.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity of equipping health professionals with knowledge and skills to effectively use digital technology for healthcare delivery. However, questions persist about the best approach to effectively educate future health professionals for this. A workshop at the 15th Nursing Informatics International Congress explored this issue. OBJECTIVE: To report findings from an international participatory workshop exploring pre-registration informatics implementation experiences. METHODS: A virtual workshop was held using whole and small group interactive methods aiming to 1) showcase international examples of incorporating health informatics into pre-registration education; 2) highlight essential elements and considerations for integrating health informatics into curricula; 3) identify integration models of health informatics; 4) identify core learning objectives, resources, and faculty capabilities for teaching informatics; and 5) propose curriculum evaluation strategies. The facilitators' recorded data and written notes were content analysed. RESULTS: Fourteen participants represented seven countries and a range of educational experiences. Four themes emerged: 1) Design: scaffolding digital health and technology capabilities; 2) Development: interprofessional experience of and engagement with digital health technology capabilities; 3) implementation strategies; and 4) Evaluation: multifaceted, multi-stakeholder evaluation of curricula. These themes were used to propose an implementation framework. DISCUSSION: Workshop findings emphasise global challenges in integrating health informatics into curricula. While course development approaches may appear linear, the learner-centred implementation framework based on workshop findings, advocates for a more cyclical approach. Iterative evaluation involving stakeholders, such as health services, will ensure that health professional education is progressive and innovative. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed implementation framework serves as a roadmap for successful health informatics implementation into health professional curricula. Prioritising engagement with health services and digital health industry is essential to ensure the relevance of implemented informatics curricula for the future workforce, acknowledging the variability in placement experiences and their influence on informatics exposure, experience, and learning.

Integrating Health Informatics into Pre-Registration Nursing Education: Insights from a Participatory Workshop.

The implementation of health informatics in pre-registration health professional degrees faces persistent challenges, including curriculum overload, educator workforce capability gaps, and financial constraints. Despite these barriers, reports of successful implementation of health informatics pre-registration nursing programs exist. A virtual workshop was held during thein 15th International Nursing Informatics Conference in 2021 with the aim to explore successful implementation strategies for incorporating health informatics into the nursing curriculum to meet the accreditation standards. This paper reports recommendations from the workshop emphasising the importance academic-clinical partnerships to develop innovative approaches to enhance theof capacity of academic teams and access to contemporary point of care digital technologies that reflect applications of health informatics in interdisciplinary clinical settings.

Sex and gender in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease characterised by pulmonary vascular remodelling and elevated pulmonary pressure, which eventually leads to right heart failure and death. Registries worldwide have noted a female predominance of the disease, spurring particular interest in hormonal involvement in the disease pathobiology. Several experimental models have shown both protective and deleterious effects of oestrogens, suggesting that complex mechanisms participate in PAH pathogenesis. In fact, oestrogen metabolites as well as receptors and enzymes implicated in oestrogen signalling pathways and associated conditions such as BMPR2 mutation contribute to PAH penetrance more specifically in women. Conversely, females have better right ventricular function, translating to a better prognosis. Along with right ventricular adaptation, women tend to respond to PAH treatment differently from men. As some young women suffer from PAH, contraception is of particular importance, considering that pregnancy in patients with PAH is strongly discouraged due to high risk of death. When contraception measures fail, pregnant women need a multidisciplinary team-based approach. This article aims to review epidemiology, mechanisms underlying the higher female predominance, but better prognosis and the intricacies in management of women affected by PAH.

Mechanical Circulatory Support for the Management of Complex Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare but potentially fatal disease. The management of PPCM is individualized, and an early diagnosis is instrumental in the institution of an appropriate management plan. Here, we present a dramatic case of PPCM that was managed with a period of mechanical circulatory support. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

A hospital-randomized controlled trial of a formal quality improvement educational program in rural and small community Texas hospitals: one year results.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of a quality improvement educational program in rural hospitals. DESIGN: Hospital-randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 47 rural and small community hospitals in Texas that had previously received a web-based benchmarking and case-review tool. INTERVENTION: The 47 hospitals were randomized either to receive formal quality improvement educational program or to a control group. The educational program consisted of two 2-day didactic sessions on continuous quality improvement techniques, followed by the design, implementation and reporting of a local quality improvement project, with monthly coaching conference calls and annual follow-up conclaves. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performance on core measures for community-acquired pneumonia and congestive heart failure were compared between study groups to evaluate the impact of the educational program. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the study groups on any measures. Of the 23 hospitals in the intervention group, only 16 completed the didactic program and 6 the full training program. Similar results were obtained when these groups were compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: While the observed results suggest no incremental benefit of the quality improvement educational program following implementation of a web-based benchmarking and case-review tool in rural hospitals, given the small number of hospitals that completed the program, it is not conclusive that such programs are ineffective. Further research incorporating supporting infrastructure, such as physician champions, financial incentives and greater involvement of senior leadership, is needed to assess the value of quality improvement educational programs in rural hospitals.

Statins as Potential Therapeutics for Lung Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes.

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. It also has the highest malignancy-associated mortality rate. Treatment options are limited by cancer and tumor heterogeneity, resistance to treatment options, and an advanced stage at time of diagnosis, all of which are common. Statins are a class of lipid-lowering medications that have been studied for their antitumor effects in various types of cancers. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to explain their observed off-target effects. Most of these hypotheses focus largely on statin-induced upregulation of proapoptotic signaling pathways and mediators, and the downregulation of antineoplastic factors secondary to statin use. Preclinical and clinical studies support their use for conferring a mortality benefit and improving treatment effect in some chemotherapy-resistant subtypes of lung cancer. However, their exact mechanism of action, class-dependent effect, dose-dependent effect, potential use as adjuvant chemotherapeutics, and markers of statin-sensitivity in specific lung cancer subtypes remain areas of ongoing investigation. Herein, we review the latest literature pertinent to the role statins can play in the management of lung cancers.