Physicians can save time and work more efficiently using electronic documentation, according to results of a hospital-wide study at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The medical center partnered with the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland to conduct the novel research that compared workflow and efficiency of consulting physicians using paper documents and computerized documents.

The study looked at workflow before and after implementation of computerized documentation. Researchers used time-motion tracking software to capture the flow and timing of concurrent events. Researchers followed 27 consulting physicians working on paper documents over three weeks. 

Overall time to complete a consult was reduced by 16.6 minutes, from 58.1 to 41.5 minutes.

One month after computerized documentation was implemented researchers tracked 21 physicians for 168 hours. Their activities were grouped into five categories: computer use, use of paper documents, communication, physical examination and miscellaneous. Observations were then divided into direct and indirect patient care.

The study results showed that physicians spent 6.4 minutes more time at the computer and 13.6 minutes less time on paper with computerized documentation. 

The study convinced clinicians that computerized documentation saves time and is more efficient for consultants in both direct and indirect patient care. Today, more than 700 electronic physician documents are generated daily at Children’s National.

	Cerner Congratulates
	Congratulations to Dr. Brian R. Jacobs for receiving the 2008 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Physician IT Leadership Award. Jacobs is chief medical information officer and executive director, Center for Pediatric Informatics, Children’s National Medical Center. The award, presented in April, is given to an individual who demonstrates significant leadership in applying IT to the needs of physicians. Prior to his current role, Jacobs was professor of pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, and director, technology and patient safety, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Editor’s Note: This work was presented by Dr. Christi Corriveau, principal investigator, at the Pediatric Academic Society Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Md., in May. www.childrensnational.org