The VA Provider Digital Health (DHC) Committee meets regularly; members work to identify Cerner changes that would be most helpful to providers. VPSA provides sessional funding to the nine physician representatives on the committee for time spent in meetings and doing other committee work.
The following is a summary of the committee’s January 21st meeting.
Associate Chief Medical Information Officer update
Dr. Stephen Van Gaal updated committee members on the discharge tool test cancellation.
A new alert for test cancellation on the discharge tool is now in production. The alert notifies ordering providers when an urgent outpatient CT or MRI is downgraded to routine with the information delivered via the Message Centre. The goal of this new alert is to reduce cognitive load. Providers often mentally track whether urgent tests occur; automated alerts shift this responsibility to the system and replaces a process that is manual and error prone.
Project update: Patient Portal
The Patient Portal launches on February 4; there will be a significant awareness campaign with booths, posters, and onsite engagement. Clinical Informatics is meeting with ambulatory areas to ensure awareness and readiness. Nursing educators, managers, and directors across sites have been briefed so they can speak to the portal during patient interactions.
Project update: ED Resident Ordering
Regional Digital Solutions is now working on this item. The team is building a prototype for the “blank position name” field in the ordering provider window.
Project update: Team Communication
A tentative go-live date of February 17 has been set and rollout materials prepared with a memo set to be sent to medical staff on behalf of the VA Digital Health Committee. A guideline summary as well as other materials for providers and nursing and allied staff are being prepared. There will be an evaluation period and provider educators will be available on units during the first weeks of implementation.
Next Meeting
The committee meets again on February 11. If you have an item you wish to be brought forward at one of these meetings, please contact Laura Mc Evoy, Manager, Provider Strategic Initiatives & Engagement at VCH.