Clinical informatics accelerates health system adaptation to the COVID-19 pandemic: examples from Colorado

Abstract

Abstract Objective Large health systems responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic face a broad range of challenges; we describe 14 examples of innovative and effective informatics interventions. Materials and Methods A team of 30 physician and 17 nurse informaticists with an electronic health record (EHR) and associated informatics tools. Results To meet the demands posed by the influx of patients with COVID-19 into the health system, the team built solutions to accomplish the following goals: 1) train physicians and nurses quickly to manage a potential surge of hospital patients; 2) build and adjust interactive visual pathways to guide decisions; 3) scale up video visits and teach best-practice communication; 4) use tablets and remote monitors to improve in-hospital and posthospital patient connections; 5) allow hundreds of physicians to build rapid consensus; 6) improve the use of advance care planning; 7) keep clinicians aware of patients’ changing COVID-19 status; 8) connect nurses and families in new ways; 9) semi-automate Crisis Standards of Care; and 10) predict future hospitalizations. Discussion During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UCHealth Joint Informatics Group applied a strategy of “practical informatics” to rapidly translate critical leadership decisions into understandable guidance and effective tools for patient care. Conclusion Informatics-trained physicians and nurses drew upon their trusted relationships with multiple teams within the organization to create practical solutions for onboarding, clinical decision-making, telehealth, and predictive analytics.