Provider and information technology operations staff perspectives on the feasibility of writing patient-generated health data into the electronic health record

TL;DR

This study explores how healthcare providers and IT staff view the possibility of allowing patients to edit and add data to their electronic health records, finding general support but highlighting the need for careful implementation.

Contribution

The paper provides new insights into the feasibility and implementation strategies for incorporating patient-generated data into EHRs through stakeholder interviews.

Findings

Providers and IT staff support a write-back process for patient-entered data but emphasize the need for provider screening to ensure accuracy.

Participants suggested using existing data management routes and allowing uploads of test results as part of the implementation.

Future research should include nursing staff and patient perspectives to ensure equitable and effective implementation.

Abstract

This study aims to develop a detailed understanding of provider and Information Technology (IT) operations staff experiences and attitudes regarding patients’ ability to edit their data. This includes understanding barriers to developing a process to write back data into the electronic health record (EHR) as well as a concrete set of recommendations on incorporating patient-generated data into the EHR.

RealRisks, our team’s Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources-compliant web-based patient decision aid, was utilized as an exemplar platform in which patients can access EHR data and review, correct, and contribute patient-derived data when specific elements are missing. An interview guide was developed and semi-structured interviews of 9 participants (physicians n = 4, IT operations staff n = 5) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center were carried out to understand the feasibility of writing back patient-entered edits into the EHR using the RealRisks decision aid.

Providers and IT operations staff reported varied knowledge of how patients interact with their data but collectively stated a need for increasing EHR accuracy that prioritizes provider-patient communication. Participants supported a write-back process and had specific suggestions for implementation mechanisms (such as the option to upload test results when submitting changes).

Providers and IT operations staff maintained that existing data management routes used for external data incorporation should be utilized, and that providers should screen edit requests to ensure EHR quality and accuracy.

While participants felt a write-back of patient-derived data would be helpful, future studies should directly assess nursing staff and advanced practice providers as well as patient perspectives to ensure equity and efficacy.

Figures