NURS FPX 6412 Assessment 3 Manuscript for Publication

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Capella university

NURS-FPX 6412 Analysis of Clinical Information Systems and Application to Nursing Practice

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Manuscript for Publication

This manuscript is prepared for submission to the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA), a publication known for its focus on advancements in health informatics and digital health technologies. With an emphasis on topics such as Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, clinical decision support, and data analytics, JAMIA serves as a valuable platform for evidence-based innovations in medical informatics. The current discussion evaluates the deployment of Epic Systems as an EHR solution at Sunrise Health Care, with a goal to examine its impact on workflow optimization, patient safety, and quality of care outcomes. The analysis aligns with the organization’s strategic vision while offering informed recommendations to enhance stakeholder satisfaction, streamline operations, and support continuous healthcare improvement.

Evaluation of Epic Systems EHR Use for Interprofessional Stakeholders

At Sunrise Health Care, the adoption of Epic Systems has played a central role in fostering effective interprofessional collaboration. Epic, recognized as a leading EHR platform, facilitates secure data exchange, real-time communication, and integrated care planning. These capabilities support physicians, nurses, administrative teams, and other stakeholders in delivering synchronized, high-quality care (Chishtie et al., 2023).

Table 1: Benefits of Epic EHR for Interprofessional Stakeholders

Stakeholder Group	Key Benefits of Epic EHR
Physicians	Access to comprehensive patient data, clinical decision support tools, and evidence-based guidelines to enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Nurses	User-friendly interface, streamlined documentation, real-time monitoring, and alert systems to maintain patient safety.
Administrative Staff	Efficient handling of billing, appointments, and claims; improved interoperability with external systems.
Interprofessional Teams	Coordinated planning, reduced medical errors, and improved communication across departments (Adeniyi et al., 2024).

The system’s ability to provide up-to-date patient information in real-time across departments significantly reduces the risks associated with communication breakdowns (Jiang et al., 2021). Furthermore, integration with evidence-based protocols ensures consistent application of best practices across care teams, improving outcomes and streamlining workflows.

Epic’s order entry, clinical documentation, and alert systems collectively enhance communication among all care providers. However, continuous assessment remains essential. Usability concerns and evolving user needs must be addressed through improved interface designs and consistent staff training. Such efforts will ensure that Epic remains a responsive and adaptive system capable of supporting quality outcomes and meeting diverse stakeholder expectations.

Improving Workflows for Safety and Quality Outcomes

The implementation of Epic Systems at Sunrise Health Care has proven instrumental in optimizing clinical workflows, which directly supports both patient safety and care quality. Its design promotes efficient communication by enabling access to centralized patient records at every stage of care delivery. For instance, when a patient transitions from emergency to inpatient care, authorized team members can instantly review lab results, prior diagnoses, and care instructions, thereby enhancing continuity and reducing error risks (Jiang et al., 2021).

Epic also features clinical decision support (CDS) tools, which serve as a cornerstone of safe, evidence-informed practice. These tools offer alerts and guidelines embedded within clinical workflows, enabling prompt and accurate decisions. In a recent study, Epic’s CDS tools significantly improved risk stratification and decision-making for kidney failure patients by automating complex clinical equations (Alexiuk et al., 2024).

Moreover, the system supports consistent use of standardized protocols, allowing institutions to track performance trends and address care gaps with targeted interventions. This capability enables the organization to continuously monitor and refine clinical practices for optimal outcomes. Automation of routine tasks such as note-taking and order entries has also led to reductions in administrative workload, allowing clinicians to dedicate more time to direct patient care (Chishtie et al., 2023).

Supporting the Strategic Plan of Sunrise Health Care

Epic’s implementation is well-aligned with Sunrise Health Care’s strategic goals, including improvements in patient care, operational efficiency, interprofessional collaboration, regulatory compliance, and population health management.

Patient Care Quality

A central objective in Sunrise Health Care’s mission is to deliver high-quality, patient-centered services. Epic’s real-time data access ensures healthcare providers have immediate access to clinical records, thereby enhancing decision-making accuracy and reducing care delays. This leads to higher patient satisfaction and improved outcomes (Johnson, 2024).

Operational Efficiency

By automating processes like documentation, appointment scheduling, and claims processing, Epic reduces administrative strain and increases productivity. Staff are thus able to shift focus from clerical work to clinical care. Its interoperability features also enable fluid data sharing with external health systems, further enhancing efficiency (Wang et al., 2024; Chishtie et al., 2023).

Collaborative Work Environment

Epic promotes interprofessional collaboration by serving as a shared digital space where physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and administrative staff access unified patient records. This shared platform ensures timely communication and fosters accountability in multidisciplinary care delivery (Adeniyi et al., 2024).

Patient Engagement

The integrated patient portal is a critical component of Epic that facilitates patient involvement in care. Features such as appointment scheduling, secure messaging, and access to health records empower patients to actively participate in their health decisions, improving adherence and engagement (Carini et al., 2021).

Regulatory Compliance

Epic helps ensure compliance with legal and policy requirements by maintaining audit trails, secure data storage, and robust documentation tools. This adherence minimizes the risk of regulatory breaches and enhances eligibility for government incentive programs (Trout et al., 2022).

Population Health Data Management

The system’s advanced data analytics capabilities support population health efforts by identifying trends, managing chronic diseases, and implementing preventive strategies. Epic allows providers to analyze large data sets, helping reduce readmissions and improve community health outcomes (Chishtie et al., 2023).

Recommendations for Improvement

To further optimize Epic EHR utilization at Sunrise Health Care, a few targeted recommendations are proposed. First, comprehensive training programs should be regularly conducted to ensure all stakeholders remain proficient in using advanced system features. This approach will improve data accuracy and reduce errors (Ali et al., 2023).

Second, customized user interfaces for different roles can improve system navigation. For example, physicians may benefit from dashboards emphasizing diagnostic tools, while nurses could use layouts prioritizing monitoring and medication charts (Sreejith & Sinimole, 2024).

Third, the enhancement of patient engagement tools is critical. Expanding the patient portal to support features such as telehealth, personalized health trackers, and medication reminders will strengthen the relationship between patients and providers, ultimately improving outcomes (Janssen et al., 2023).

Conclusion

The integration of Epic Systems at Sunrise Health Care has markedly improved the organization’s ability to deliver safe, efficient, and patient-centered services. By streamlining clinical workflows, enhancing real-time data access, and promoting interprofessional communication, Epic supports evidence-based care and minimizes administrative burdens. These functionalities not only contribute to operational efficiency but also enhance clinical decision-making, patient safety, and care quality.

Epic’s alignment with strategic goals—such as improving patient engagement, achieving regulatory compliance, and managing population health—reinforces its role as a foundational tool in healthcare delivery at Sunrise. Future enhancements should focus on ongoing training, user-specific customization, and expanded patient engagement features. These steps will ensure the system remains responsive to both provider and patient needs, ultimately fostering better outcomes and long-term satisfaction.

References

Adeniyi, A. O., Arowoogun, J. O., Chidi, R., Okolo, C. A., Babawarun, O., Adeniyi, A. O., Arowoogun, J. O., Chidi, R., Okolo, C. A., & Babawarun, O. (2024). The impact of electronic health records on patient care and outcomes: A comprehensive review. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 21(2), 1446–1455. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.2.0592 

Alexiuk, M., Elgubtan, H., & Tangri, N. (2024). Clinical decision support tools in the EMR. Kidney International Reports, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2023.10.019 

NURS FPX 6412 Assessment 3 Manuscript for Publication

Ali, S., Khan, H. M., Shah, J., & Ahmed, K. (2023). An electronic health record system implementation in a resource-limited country—lessons learned. Digital Health, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076231203660 

Carini, E., Villani, L., Pezzullo, A. M., Gentili, A., Barbara, A., Ricciardi, W., & Boccia, S. (2021). The impact of digital patient portals on health outcomes, system efficiency, and patient attitudes: Updated systematic literature review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(9). https://doi.org/10.2196/26189

Chishtie, J., Sapiro, N., Wiebe, N., Rabatach, L., Lorenzetti, D., Leung, A. A., Rabi, D., Quan, H., & Eastwood, C. A. (2023). Use of Epic electronic health record system for health care research: Scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25(1), e51003. https://doi.org/10.2196/51003 

Janssen, A., Keep, M., Selvadurai, H., & Shaw, T. (2023). Health professionals’ experiences with a patient portal pre and post launch: A qualitative study. Health Policy and Technology, 12(3), 100761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2023.100761 

Jiang, G., Dhruva, S. S., Chen, J., Schulz, W. L., Doshi, A. A., Noseworthy, P. A., Zhang, S., Yu, Y., Patrick Young, H., Brandt, E., Ervin, K. R., Shah, N. D., Ross, J. S., Coplan, P., & Drozda, J. P. (2021). Feasibility of capturing real-world data from health information technology systems at multiple centers to assess cardiac ablation device outcomes: A fit-for-purpose informatics analysis report. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(10), 2241–2250. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocab117 

Johnson, R. J. (2024). EPIC® and high reliability in healthcare: An evidence-based commentary. Journal of Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 1(4), 84–96. https://doi.org/10.14302/issn.2641-5526.jmid-24-4893 

NURS FPX 6412 Assessment 3 Manuscript for Publication

Sreejith, R., & Sinimole. K. R. (2024). User-centric evaluation of EHR software through NLP-driven investigation: Implications for product development and user experience. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 10(1), 100206–100206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100206

Trout, K. E., Chen, L.-W., Wilson, F. A., Tak, H. J., & Palm, D. (2022). The impact of meaningful use and electronic health records on hospital patient safety. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12525. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912525 

Wang, Z., West, C. P., Vaa Stelling, B. E., Hasan, B., Simha, S., Saadi, S., Firwana, M., Nayfeh, T., Kelly, E., Viola, K. E., Prokop, L. J., & Murad, M. H. (2024). Measuring documentation burden in healthcare. Final Technical Brief Number, 47. https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/related_files/documentation-burden-prepub-tech-brief.pdf