Design and Implementation of Structured Clinical Documentation Support Tools for Treating Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Standardized electronic medical record tools provide an opportunity to efficiently provide care that conforms to Best Practices and supports quality improvement and practice-based research initiatives. METHODS: We describe the development of a customized structured clinical documentation "toolkit" that standardizes patient data collection to conform to Best Practices for treating patients with stroke. The toolkit collects patients' demographic information, relevant score test measures, and captures information on disability, treatment, and outcomes. RESULTS: We describe here our creation and implementation of the toolkits and provide example screenshots. As of August 1, 2018, we have evaluated 2332 patients at an initial visit for a possible stroke. We provide basic descriptive data gathered from the use of the toolkits, demonstrating their utility in collecting patient data in a manner that supports both quality clinical care and research initiatives. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed an EMR toolkit to support Best Practices in the care of patients with stroke. We discuss quality improvement projects and current research initiatives using the toolkit. This toolkit is being shared with other Departments of Neurology as part of the Neurology Practice-Based Research Network.

A socio-technical analytical framework on the EHR-organizational innovation interplay: Insights from a public hospital in Greece.

The healthcare sector globally is confronted with increasing internal and external pressures that urge for a radical reform of health systems' status quo. The role of technological innovations such as Electronic Health Records (EHR) is recognized as instrumental in this transition process as it is expected to accelerate organizational innovations. This is why the widespread uptake of EHR systems is a top priority in the global healthcare agenda. The successful co-deployment though of EHR systems and organizational innovations within the context of secondary healthcare institutions is a complex and multifaceted issue. Existing research in the field has made little progress thus emphasizing the need for further research contribution that will incorporate a holistic perspective. This paper presents insights about the EHR-organizational innovation interplay from a public hospital in Greece into a socio-technical analytical framework providing a multilevel set of action points for the eHealth roadmap with worldwide relevance.

Estimación del consumo de bebidas no alcohólicas, sodio, suplementos y aceite / Consumption estimation of non alcoholic beverages, sodium, food supplements and oil

El interés por el tipo y la cantidad de bebidas no alcohólicas, sodio, suplementos y aceite consumidos no es nuevo, y numerosos enfoques se han utilizado para evaluarla, pero la validez de estos enfoques no se ha establecido correctamente. Las necesidades de líquidos varían dependiendo de la dieta, de la actividad física realizada, de la temperatura ambiental, de la humedad, etc. La variedad de bebidas en la dieta puede contribuir a incrementar la ingesta de micronutrientes: vitaminas, antioxidantes, minerales. Los riesgos asociados al elevado consumo de sodio son: aumento de hipertensión arterial, deterior endotelial vascular, desmineralización ósea, enfermedad renal, cáncer de estómago. Los avances en salud, investigación, educación, etc. llevan a un creciente consumo de suplementos alimenticios. El aceite de oliva representa uno de los pilares básicos de la Dieta Mediterránea y su presencia habitual en la alimentación garantiza un adecuado aporte de algunos nutrientes importantes, no sólo ácido oleico y linoleico, si no también tocoferoles, fitoesteroles y compuestos fenólicos. Los biomarcadores de ingesta permiten evaluar objetivamente la ingesta dietética sin el sesgo producido por los errores del auto-reporte. Además permiten superar el problema de la variabilidad intra-individual. Algunos métodos para medir ingesta alimentaria utilizan biomarcadores para validar los datos que recoge. Los marcadores biológicos ofrecen ventajas y son capaces de mejorar las estimaciones de la evaluación de ingesta dietética. Sin embargo, existen muy pocos estudios que examinen sistemáticamente la correlación entre la ingesta de bebidas y los biomarcadores de hidratación en diferentes poblaciones. Conclusión: Aún no existe, en población general, un cuestionario estandarizado desarrollado como herramienta de investigación para la evaluación de la ingesta de bebidas no alcohólicas, sodio, suplementos y aceite. El uso de información de diferentes fuentes y diferentes características metodológicas plantea problemas de comparabilidad entre estudios. En Europa los estudios epidemiológicos actuales son escasos (AU)

The interest in the type and quantity of non alcoholic beverage, sodium, food supplements and oil consumption is not new, and numerous approaches have been used to assess beverage intake, but the validity of these approaches has not been well established. The need to intake liquids varies depending on the diet, the physical activity carried out, the environmental temperature, the humidity, etc. The variety of beverages in the diet can contribute to increasing the micro nutrient intake: vitamins, antioxidants, minerals. Risks associated to high sodium consumption are: an increase in high blood pressure, vascular endothelial deterioration, bone demineralisation, kidney disease, stomach cancer. Progress in health, investigation, education, etc. are leading to an increase in food supplement consumption. Olive oil represents one of the basic pillars of the Mediterranean diet and its normal presence in nutrition guarantees an adequate content of some important nutrients; not only oleic acid and linoleic acid but also tocopherols, phytoesterols and phenolic compounds. Biomarkers of intake are able to objectively assess dietary intake/status without the bias of self-reported dietary intake errors and also overcome the problem of intra-individual diet variability. Furthermore, some methods of of measuring dietary intake used biomarkers to validate the data it collects. Biological markers may offer advantages and be able to improve the estimates of dietary intake assessment, which impact into the statistical power of the study. There is a surprising paucity of studies that systematically examine the correlation of beverages intake and hydration biomarker in different populations. Conclusion: There is no standardized questionnaire developed as a research tool for the evaluation of non alcoholic beverages, sodium, food supplements and oil intake in the general population. Sometimes, the information comes from different sources or from different methodological characteristics which raises problems of the comparability. In the European Union, current epidemiological studies are scarce (AU)

[Prescription analysis of continuous home care oxygen therapy after intervention pharmaceutical]. / Análisis de la prescripción de oxigenoterapia continua domiciliaria tras intervención farmacéutica.

OBJECTIVES: Analyze developments in the clinical adequacy of prescribing continuous home oxygen therapy to current regulations in the Andalusian Health Service. METHODOLOGY: Were reviewed in a previous study requirements and continuing new domiciliary oxygen therapy conducted from January 2008 to December 2009. It constituted a Monitoring Committee Multidisciplinary and turned to analyzing the appropriateness of prescribing after two pharmaceutical interventions from April 2011 to March 2012. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 15.0 for Windows, the dependent variable being the correct blade adjustment to the first prescription and then, and as independent prescribing different units. In cases in which the prescribing correct sheet, variables were analyzed mandatory. RESULTS: 163 prescriptions were checked manually with a rate of compliance with the regulations of 66.30%, slightly higher than the results of the previous study (55.72% in 2008, 47.70% in 2009). The intervention did not achieve a greater degree the outlook for lack of financial and material resources, affecting one of the fundamental objectives were patient reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmaceutical intervention has ensured that the prescription conforms to the rules and perform better, but has not been able to control the issue of revisions to rely on other medical and administrative units requesting increased technological and human resources to facilitate control.

Objetivos: Analizar la evolución en la adecuación clínica de la prescripción de Oxigenoterapia Continua Domiciliaria a la normativa vigente en el Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Metodología: Se revisaron en un estudio previo las prescripciones nuevas y de continuación de oxigenoterapia continua domiciliaria realizadas desde Enero 2008 a Diciembre 2009. Se constituyó una Comisión de Seguimiento Multidisciplinar y se volvió a analizar la adecuación de la prescripción tras dos intervenciones farmacéuticas desde Abril 2011 a Marzo 2012. Se realizó análisis estadístico, mediante programa SPSS 15,0 para Windows, siendo la variable dependiente la adecuación a la hoja correcta de primera prescripción y continuación; y como independiente, las distintas unidades prescriptoras. En los casos en que se realizó la prescripción en hoja correcta, se analizaron las variables de cumplimentación obligatoria. Resultados: Se revisaron manualmente 163 prescripciones, con un porcentaje de adecuación a la normativa del 66,30%, algo superior a los resultados del estudio previo (55,72% en 2008; 47,70% en 2009). La intervención realizada no alcanzó en mayor grado las perspectivas por falta de recursos económicos y materiales, afectando a uno de los objetivos fundamentales que eran las revisiones de pacientes. Conclusiones: La intervención farmacéutica ha conseguido que la prescripción se adecue en mayor proporción a la normativa y se realice mejor, pero no se ha podido controlar el tema de las revisiones al depender de otras especialidades médicas y unidades administrativas que solicitaban aumento de recursos tecnológicos y humanos que facilitaran el control.

Building electronic forms for elderly program: integrated care model for high risk elders in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, elderly patients discharged from hospital are at high risk of unplanned readmission. The Integrated Care Model (ICM) program is introduced to provide continuous and coordinated care for high risk elders from hospital to community to prevent unplanned readmission. A multidisciplinary working group was set up to address the requirements on developing the electronic forms for ICM program. Six (6) forms were developed. These forms can support ICM service delivery for the high risk elders, clinical documentation, statistical analysis and information sharing.

[Method for direct generation data for formatted case report forms based on requirement for data authenticity in actual clinical conditions].

Data authenticity is the basic requirement of clinical studies. In actual clinical conditions how to establish formatted case report forms (CRF) in line with the requirement for data authenticity is the key to ensure clinical data quality. On the basis of the characteristics of clinical data in actual clinical conditions, we determined elements for establishing formatted case report forms by comparing differences in data characteristics of CRFs in traditional clinical studies and in actual clinical conditions, and then generated formatted case report forms in line with the requirement for data authenticity in actual clinical conditions. The data of formatted CRFs generated in this study could not only meet the requirement for data authenticity of clinical studies in actual clinical conditions, but also comply with data management practices for clinical studies, thus it is deemed as a progress in technical methods.

[Validation of a method of dispensing nutritional supplements in a tertiary hospital]. / Validación de un método de dispensación de suplementos nutricionales en un hospital terciario.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional supplements are an essential component of the management of hospital hyponutrition, although their costs are high. There exists the need for methods allowing a rational prescription of them. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the validity of the criteria for dispensing the nutritional supplements (NS) used at our center (by using as a reference the CONUT system). MATERIAL AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the petition formularies of NS sent from the different departments for 15 months (April/2010-June/2011). We analyzed the following variables: petitionary department; pathology; BMI; recent weight loss; decreased intake > 50%; total proteins; albumin; lymphocytes; total cholesterol; and assessment of the hyponutrition level according to the CONUT system. We compared the validity of our dispensing criteria of NS to those of the CONUT system by means of the Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: We received 524 petitions (34.9/month). Pathologies: infectious (31.1%), tumor (26.1%), postsurgical (19%), others (23.8%). 88.9% of the patients had recent weight loss and 83.4% decreased intake > 50%. BMI: 24.8 ± 7.5 kg/m². Laboratory parameters: albumin 2.6 ± 0.7 g/dL, total proteins 5.7 ± 2.4 g/dL, total cholesterol 152 ± 172 mg/dL, lymphocytes 1,561 ± 1,842/ mm3. Assessment of the hyponutrition level according to the CONUT system: normal (12%), mild hyponutrition (23.1%), moderate (41.6%), severe (23.3%). Adherence to our hospital requisites for the dispensation of NS: none (6.3%), one (33.6%), two (43.1%), all three (17%). We compared the number of requisites to the degree of hyponutrition (CONUT system), yielding a weak agreement index (Kappa = 0.207; p < 0.001). 156 patients (29.8% of all the petitions) received a NS in spite of having a normal nutrition level or mild hyponutrition according to the CONUT system. Most of these commands (116; 74.4%) met just one criterion for dispensing a NS, and in 93.9% of them the reason alleged by the physician was a decreased intake > 50%. CONCLUSIONS: our dispensation method of NS detects a greater percentage of patients susceptible of nutritional supplementation than the CONUT system. The main advantage of our system is the assessment of a decreased intake, which is the main indication for a NS at the hospital setting.

Introducción: Los suplementos nutricionales constituyen un pilar fundamental del tratamiento de la desnutrición hospitalaria, aunque su coste es elevado. Son precisos métodos que permitan una prescripción racional de los mismos. Objetivos: Analizar la validez de los criterios de dispensación de suplementos nutricionales (SN) utilizados en nuestro centro (empleando como referencia el sistema CONUT). Material y métodos: Se revisaron retrospectivamente los formularios de solicitud de SN remitidos por los distintos servicios durante 15 meses (abril/2010-junio/2011). Se analizaron las siguientes variables: servicio solicitante, patología, IMC, pérdida de peso reciente, disminución de la ingesta mayor del 50%, proteínas totales, albúmina, linfocitos, colesterol total y valoración del grado de desnutrición según sistema CONUT. Se comparó la validez de nuestros criterios de dispensación de SN con el sistema CONUT (empleando el coeficiente Kappa). Resultados: Se recibieron 524 solicitudes (34,9/mes). Patologías: infecciosa (31,1%), tumoral (26,1%), postquirúrgica (19%), otras (23,8%). Había pérdida de peso reciente en el 88,9% de los pacientes, y una disminución de la ingesta superior al 50% en el 83,4%. IMC: 24,8 ± 7,5 kg/m2. Parámetros analíticos: albúmina 2,6 ± 0,7 g/dl, proteínas totales 5,7 ± 2,4 g/dl, colesterol total 152 ± 172 mg/dl, linfocitos 1.561 ± 1.842/mm3. Valoración del grado de desnutrición según sistema CONUT: normal (12%), desnutrición leve (23,1%), moderada (41,6%), grave (23,3%). Cumplimiento de los requisitos de nuestro centro hospitalario para la dispensación de SN: ninguno (6,3%), uno (33,6%), dos (43,1%), los tres (17%). Se comparó el número de dichos requisitos con el grado de desnutrición (sistema CONUT), obteniéndose un índice de concordancia débil (Kappa = 0,207; p < 0,001). 156 pacientes (29,8% de las solicitudes) recibieron SN, a pesar de presentar grado de nutrición normal o desnutrición leve de acuerdo al sistema CONUT. La mayor parte de dichas solicitudes (116; 74,4%) cumplían un único requisito para la dispensación de SN, y en el 93,9% de las mismas el criterio alegado por el médico solicitante era la disminución de la ingesta mayor del 50%. Conclusiones: Nuestro método de dispensación de SN detecta un mayor porcentaje de pacientes susceptibles de suplementación nutricional que el sistema CONUT. La principal ventaja de nuestro sistema es la valoración de la disminución de la ingesta, que es la principal indicación de SN en el medio hospitalario.

Randomised controlled trials of veterinary homeopathy: characterising the peer-reviewed research literature for systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Systematic review of the research evidence in veterinary homeopathy has never previously been carried out. This paper presents the search methods, together with categorised lists of retrieved records, that enable us to identify the literature that is acceptable for future systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in veterinary homeopathy. METHODS: All randomised and controlled trials of homeopathic intervention (prophylaxis and/or treatment of disease, in any species except man) were appraised according to pre-specified criteria. The following databases were systematically searched from their inception up to and including March 2011: AMED; Carstens-Stiftung Homeopathic Veterinary Clinical Research (HomVetCR) database; CINAHL; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; Embase; Hom-Inform; LILACS; PubMed; Science Citation Index; Scopus. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty records were retrieved; 38 satisfied the acceptance criteria (substantive report of a clinical treatment or prophylaxis trial in veterinary homeopathic medicine randomised and controlled and published in a peer-reviewed journal), and were thus eligible for future planned systematic review. Approximately half of the rejected records were theses. Seven species and 27 different species-specific medical conditions were represented in the 38 papers. Similar numbers of papers reported trials of treatment and prophylaxis (n=21 and n=17 respectively) and were controlled against placebo or other than placebo (n=18, n=20 respectively). Most research focused on non-individualised homeopathy (n=35 papers) compared with individualised homeopathy (n=3). CONCLUSION: The results provide a complete and clarified view of the RCT literature in veterinary homeopathy. We will systematically review the 38 substantive peer-reviewed journal articles under the main headings: treatment trials; prophylaxis trials.

An analysis of electronic document management in oncology care.

In this research in progress, a reference model for the use of electronic patient record (EPR) systems in oncology is described. The model, termed CICERO, comprises technical and functional components, and emphasises usability, clinical safety and user acceptance. One of the functional components of the model-an electronic document and records management (EDRM) system-is monitored in the course of its deployment at a leading oncology centre in the UK. Specifically, the user requirements and design of the EDRM solution are described.The study is interpretative and forms part a wider research programme to define and validate the CICERO model. Preliminary conclusions confirm the importance of a socio-technical perspective in Onco-EPR system design.

Student pharmacist initiated medication reconciliation in the outpatient setting / Reconciliación de la medicación iniciada por estudiantes de farmacia en ambiente ambulatorio

The Joint Commission continues to emphasize the importance of medication reconciliation in all practice settings. Pharmacists and student pharmacists are uniquely trained in this aspect of patient care, and can assist with keeping accurate and complete medication records through patient interview in the outpatient setting. Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify and describe medication reconciliation efforts by student pharmacists in an outpatient family medicine center. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all standard medication reconciliation forms completed by student pharmacists during patient interviews from April 2010 to July 2010. The number of reviews conducted was recorded, along with the frequency of each type of discrepancy. A discrepancy was defined as any lack of agreement between the medication list in the electronic health record (EHR) and the patient-reported regimen and included any differences in dose or frequency of a medication, duplication of the same medication, medication no longer taken or omission of any medication. Results: A total of 213 standard medication forms from the 4 month period were reviewed. A total of 555 discrepancies were found, including medications no longer taken, prescription medications that needed to be added to the EHR, over-the-counter(OTC) and herbal medications that needed to be added to the EHR, medications taken differently than recorded in the EHR, and medication allergies which needed to be updated. An average of 2.6 discrepancies was found per patient interviewed. Conclusion: Student pharmacist-initiated medication reconciliation in an outpatient family medicine center resulted in the resolution of numerous discrepancies in the medication lists of individual patients. Pharmacists and student pharmacists are uniquely trained in medication history taking and play a vital role in medication reconciliation in the outpatient setting (AU)

La Joint Commission continúa enfatizando la importancia de la reconciliación de la medicación en todos los entornos sanitarios. Los farmacéuticos y los estudiantes de farmacia están especialmente entrenados en este aspecto de la atención al paciente y pueden ayudar manteniendo historiales de medicación precisos y completos mediante entrevista con los pacientes en el entorno ambulatorio. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue cuantificar y describir los esfuerzos en reconciliación de la medicación por estudiantes de farmacia en un centro ambulatorio de medicina de familia. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de todos los formularios estándar de reconciliación de la medicación cumplimentados por estudiantes de farmacia durante las entrevistas a pacientes desde abril-2010 a julio-2010. Se registró el número de revisiones realizadas así como la frecuencia de cada tipo de discrepancia. Se definió una discrepancia como cualquier falta de acuerdo entre la lista de medicación en la historia clínica electrónica (HCE) y el régimen reportado por el paciente e incluía cualquier diferencia en dosis o frecuencia de un medicamento, duplicidad del mismo medicamento, medicación discontinuada u omisión de cualquier medicación. Resultados: Se revisaron un total de 213 formularios estándar de medicación del periodo de 4 meses. Se encontraron un total de 555 discrepancias, incluyendo, medicaciones que ya no se tomaban, medicación que necesitaba ser añadidas a la HCE, medicamentos OTC y plantas medicinales que tenían que añadirse a la HCE, medicación tomadas de modo diferente a lo registrado en la HCE y alergias a medicación que necesitaban actualizarse. Se encontró una media de 2,6 discrepancias por paciente entrevistado. Conclusión: La reconciliación de la medicación iniciada por estudiantes de farmacia en un centro ambulatorio de medicina familiar produjo la resolución de numerosas discrepancias en las listas de medicación de los pacientes. Los farmacéuticos y los estudiantes de farmacia están especialmente entrenados para la toma de historiales de medicación y juegan un papel vital en la reconciliación de la medicación en ambiente ambulatorio (AU)

A critical evaluation of HIPE data.

Resource allocation and planning of future services is dependent on current volumes, making it imperative that procedural data is accurately recorded. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the information gathered by the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) system in recording such activity. Five index vascular procedures (open/endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, lower limb angioplasty/bypass) were chosen to reflect activity. The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), and HIPE databases were interrogated to obtain the regional and hospital specific figures for the years 2005, 2006 and 2009, and then compared with the prospective vascular database in St James's hospital. Data for 2006 (the most recent year available) shows significant discrepancies between the HIPE and vascular database figures for St James's hospital. The HIPE and database figures respectively for; open aneurysm 13/30 (-50%), endovascular aneurysm 39/31 (+25%), carotid 62/48 (+29%), angioplasty 242/111 (+100%) and bypass 24/10 (+100%) These inaccuracies are likely to be magnified on a regional and national level when pooling data.

[Characterization of folate supplementation in pregnancy, based on a combination of health information systems]. / Caracterización de la suplementación de folatos en el embarazo a partir de la combinación de sistemas de información sanitaria.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the utility of combining health information systems from the Valencia Health Agency to characterize folate supplementation in pregnant women in the autonomous region of Valencia (Spain). METHODS: The cohort comprised women who gave birth during 2009 in hospitals within the Valencian Health Agency. These women were retrospectively followed-up using ABUCASIS electronic medical records and the GAIA electronic prescription system to identify folate consumption in the 3 months before and after conception. RESULTS: In 2009, there were 38,069 births in hospitals of the Valencian Health Agency, of which 37,040 (97.3%) were included for analysis. In 34% of women, at least one folate dispensation was registered with an official prescription form within the periconceptional period (6.6% in the 3 months prior to conception). Dispensation with an official prescription form was associated with older women, free pharmaceutical prescriptions, birth in Spain, antiepileptic medications, and a diagnosis of diabetes. Eight percent of women (23.6% of the folate-treated women) received folates at high doses. CONCLUSIONS: Folate consumption during pregnancy is systematically under-registered by healthcare information systems because health professionals do not use the official prescription form for prescription and dispensation. Database linkage is an inadequate approach to assess folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

Measuring the nursing contribution using electronic records.

This article is the third in a series of four, looking at the impact on the nursing profession of the increasing demand to demonstrate the nursing contribution to patient care in terms of quality and performance. Information management processes and indicators for the measurement of care are described. The necessary improvements that need to be made to patient records to support integrated care in the future and examples of nursing classifications are also provided. The article examines the roles and responsibilities of nurses as data collectors and concludes that strong nursing leadership in the field of informatics is needed to influence and shape the data collected and ensure that nurses' professional contribution to patient care is captured.

Quantitative and qualitative verification of data quality in the childbirth registers of two rural district hospitals in Western Kenya.

OBJECTIVE: to verify the data quality of childbirth registers and explore factors that influence quality at two rural district hospitals in Western Kenya. DESIGN: a retrospective comparative case study for data quality of the 2006 childbirth registers by quantitative and qualitative methods. SETTING: Siaya and Bondo District Hospitals. METHODS: after confirming the physical condition and availability of childbirth registers, the total number of births; number of complete/incomplete data; and number of complete data that were illegible, incorrectly coded, inappropriate and unrecognised were verified quantitatively to evaluate accuracy and completeness. Data categories and instructions were examined qualitatively to assess the relevance, completeness and accuracy of the data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants to capture their views and factors that influence data quality. FINDINGS: the childbirth registers used by the two hospitals were not developed by the Ministry of Health, and their supply to Bondo was interrupted. Of the 30 data categories in the registers, five for Siaya and 23 for Bondo were more than 20% incomplete. Data for number of antenatal consultations and use of human immunodeficiency virus drugs were at least 50% incomplete for both hospitals. The percentage of illegible, incorrectly coded and inappropriate data was relatively low, and only the place of residence had unrecognised data. Data categories in the registers did not correspond well with those of monthly reports, and inappropriate instructions suggested hidden inaccuracy among apparently valid data. Organisational impediments of the health information system in general, perinatal and intrapartum contexts were identified. KEY CONCLUSIONS: data quality of the childbirth registers was unsatisfactory. Influential factors were primarily organisational and technical, which may have had an adverse effect on midwives' record keeping behaviour. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: data quality of the registers can be improved by re-examining technical challenges and organisational impediments at different levels. Midwives' awareness of data quality needs to be increased by sharing the purpose of the childbirth registers. Strong political commitment is also indispensable for putting these findings into action.

Sample of a client intake information protocol: a synopsis and rationale.

The utilization of standardized comprehensive forms in the field of orofacial myology is crucial as this profession continues to grow and establish assessment and treatment protocols. This article formally presents a comprehensive health history intake form currently in use, and highlights the rationale for each particular question within this form in an effort to explore the evidence-based theory behind each question utilized. Highlighting the importance of obtaining a thorough health history as it pertains to our profession, personally allows the clinician to ultimately best plan a therapeutic strategy and assess the individual criteria necessary for successful orofacial myofunctional habituation.

Creating an effort tracking tool to improve therapeutic cancer clinical trials workload management and budgeting.

Quantifying data management and regulatory workload for clinical research is a difficult task that would benefit from a robust tool to assess and allocate effort. As in most clinical research environments, The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC) Clinical Trials Office (CTO) struggled to effectively allocate data management and regulatory time with frequently inaccurate estimates of how much time was required to complete the specific tasks performed by each role. In a dynamic clinical research environment in which volume and intensity of work ebbs and flows, determining requisite effort to meet study objectives was challenging. In addition, a data-driven understanding of how much staff time was required to complete a clinical trial was desired to ensure accurate trial budget development and effective cost recovery. Accordingly, the UMCCC CTO developed and implemented a Web-based effort-tracking application with the goal of determining the true costs of data management and regulatory staff effort in clinical trials. This tool was developed, implemented, and refined over a 3-year period. This article describes the process improvement and subsequent leveling of workload within data management and regulatory that enhanced the efficiency of UMCCC's clinical trials operation.