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VHA Primary Care Analytics Team

Electronic Triggers to Monitor Patient Safety in Primary Care


by Scott Hagan, PhD
Seminar date: 4/20/2022

Description: Abstract: Delays in communication of abnormal test results are common patient safety events in the outpatient setting. Electronic triggers utilize retrospective electronic health record data to identify missed result communication, to measure the frequency of these events, and to prompt clinicians to take action on unrecognized delays. This seminar will discuss a recent project which validated an electronic trigger to identify delayed follow-up of outpatient moderate hyperkalemia test results. This example will be used to highlight the potential of trigger tools in VHA to improve patient care.

Target audience: This seminar is designed primarily for health services researchers interested in outpatient patient safety.

View archived session video:



DOWNLOAD: PDF handout | Audio only (mp3) | transcript


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