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University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Remains Tracker: A novel application for tracking decedents and improving the
Matthew A Smith1, Somak Roy, Rick Nestler
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, A711 Scaife Hall 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Insights
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) developed UPMC Remains Tracker, a web-based application, to streamline patient death management. This technology significantly improved tracking, documentation, and staff satisfaction in handling deceased patients.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Medical Informatics
- Hospital Administration
Background:
- Managing patient deaths in hospitals involves complex coordination across departments and personnel.
- Prior to 2004, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) faced inefficiencies in managing deceased patients, including alerting staff, transporting remains, and tracking documentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the qualitative improvements in managing deceased patients using the UPMC Remains Tracker application.
- To evaluate the impact of the UPMC Remains Tracker on decedent remains tracking, paperwork management, and staff satisfaction and compliance.
Main Methods:
- Development of UPMC Remains Tracker, a web-based application for tracking decedent locations, documentation, and autopsy status.
- Qualitative assessment of improvements in tracking, paperwork, and staff satisfaction.
- Retrospective review of 100 decedent cases managed with the application.
Main Results:
- UPMC Remains Tracker enhanced the tracking of decedent locations, personnel identification, autopsy monitoring, and funeral home coordination.
- Resident satisfaction was positive, citing improved efficiency and ease of decedent identification and tracking.
- Nursing staff also reacted favorably to the application.
- A 93% compliance rate was observed in the management of 100 decedents, with 90% compliance for cases requiring autopsy.
Conclusions:
- The UPMC Remains Tracker application effectively improves the management of hospital deaths by providing accurate tracking of remains.
- The technology streamlines administrative tasks associated with patient deaths and increases satisfaction and compliance among nursing and resident staff.
- Incorporating technological solutions like UPMC Remains Tracker is crucial for efficient and satisfactory management of deceased patients in healthcare settings.
Abstract:
All hospitals deal with patient deaths. Multiple departments and personnel must be coordinated to ensure that decedents are safely managed. Prior to 2004, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), when a patient passed away, the process of alerting involved personnel, transporting the decedent, and tracking the completion of clinical documents was cumbersome and inefficient. In order to address these concerns, UPMC Remains Tracker, a web-based application, was developed to improve the efficiency and simplify the logistics related to the management of patient deaths. The UPMC Information Services division developed UPMC Remains Tracker, an application that tracks decedents' locations, documentation status, and autopsy status within UPMC hospitals. We assessed qualitative improvement in decedent remains tracking, decedent paperwork management, and staff satisfaction and compliance. UPMC Remains Tracker improved the process of tracking decedents' locations, identifying involved personnel, monitoring autopsy requests, and determining the availability for funeral home transportation. Resident satisfaction with UPMC Remains Tracker was generally positive and scored as "Improved efficiency" and makes identifying and tracking decedents "Much easier". Additionally, the nursing staff reacted favorably to the application. A retrospective review of the use of the application in the management of 100 decedents demonstrated a 93% compliance rate. Among the cases requiring an autopsy, there was a 90% compliance rate. The process of tracking decedents, their paperwork, involved staff, and decedent autopsy status is often inefficient. This assessment suggests that incorporating new technologies such as UPMC Remains Tracker into the management of hospital deaths provides accurate tracking of remains, streamlines the administrative tasks associated with deaths, and increases nursing and resident satisfaction and compliance.
