Effectiveness and Safety of a Clinical Decision Rule to Reduce Repeat Ionized Calcium Testing: A Pre/Post Test...

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reimburse hospitals that demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology. We sought to demonstrate meaningful use by developing and implementing one clinical decision support rule in the computerized physician order entry system that targets clinician-ordered repeat ionized calcium measurement at the University of Connecticut Health Center. The rule consists of a pop-up computer reminder that is triggered by ordering a second ionized calcium test within 72 hours after an initial normal test, with no clear indication for repeat testing. We implemented the rule on December 14, 2010, and have reviewed all data collected through December 2014. We found that the number of repeat tests decreased from 46% to 14% with no significant increase in the number of serious adverse events. We conclude that computerized reminders can decrease unnecessary repeat testing in the inpatient setting.