Automated history-taking improves data quality for clinical decision-making in outpatient cardiology examinations (Preprint)

Abstract

Healthcare delivery now mandates shorter visits despite the need for more data entry, undermining patient-provider interaction. Furthermore, enhancing access to the outcomes of prior tests and imaging conducted on the patient, along with accurately documenting medication history, will significantly elevate the quality of healthcare service delivery.

To enhance the efficiency of clinic visits, we have devised a patient-provider portal that systematically gathers symptom and clinical data from patients through a computer algorithm known as Automated Assessment of Cardiovascular Examination (AACE). We intended to assess the quality of computer-generated Electronic Health Records (EHRs) with those documented by physicians

We conducted a cross-sectional study employing a paired-sample design, focusing on individuals seeking assessment for active cardiovascular (CV) symptoms at outpatient adult cardiovascular clinics. Participants initially completed the AACE, and subsequently, in the first protocol, patients were subjected to routine care without providing the AACE forms to examining physicians. In the second protocol, the AACE form was presented to the physician before the examination, and participants were subjected to routine care. We assessed the impact of AACE forms generated through computerized history taking method on the examination, considering various clinical outcomes and satisfaction surveys.

Totaling 762 patients (394 patients in protocol 1 and 368 patients in protocol 2) were included in the study. The mean overall impression score for computer-generated EHRs was higher versus physician EHRs (4.2 vs. 2.6; p<.001). Our study demonstrated that Electronic Health Records (EHRs) created by physicians exhibit inaccuracies or deficiencies in various pieces of information. In the second protocol, in which the AACE form was presented to the physician before the examination, it was determined that the examination time was shorter, the number of tests requested and the number of new drugs prescribed were less.

We found that the patient-provider portal, systematically collecting symptom and clinical data from patients through a computer algorithm known as AACE, yielded records that were of higher quality, more comprehensive, better organized, and more relevant compared to those documented by physicians.

T.C Atlas University Medical Faculty, Non-invasive Scientific Research Ethics Committee Number: E-22686390-050.99-21532