Implementation of an electronic health record-integrated instant messaging system in an academic health system

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Effective communication amongst healthcare workers simultaneously promotes optimal patient outcomes when present and is deleterious to outcomes when absent. The advent of electronic health record (EHR)-embedded secure instantaneous messaging systems has provided a new conduit for provider communication. This manuscript describes the experience of one academic medical center with deployment of one such system (Secure Chat). Methods Data were collected on Secure Chat message volume from June 2017 to April 2023. Significant perideployment events were reviewed chronologically. Results After the first coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown in March 2020, messaging use increased by over 25 000 messages per month, with 1.2 million messages sent monthly by April 2023. Comparative features of current communication modalities in healthcare were summarized, highlighting the many advantages of Secure Chat. Conclusions While EHR-embedded secure instantaneous messaging systems represent a novel and potentially valuable communication medium in healthcare, generally agreed-upon best practices for their implementation are, as of yet, undetermined.