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Outpatient medical records: improvements through layout engineering
The Western Journal of Medicine
|December 1, 1977
Summary
Physicians redesigned office charts using industrial engineering methods to improve outpatient documentation. The new design enhances cohesion, reduces redundancy, and offers improved medicolegal safeguards for patient records.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Healthcare Management
- Clinical Documentation
Background:
- Problem-oriented medical records (POMR) presented functional limitations in current medical group practice.
- Physician dissatisfaction with existing outpatient documentation systems necessitated a redesign.
Purpose of the Study:
- To redesign office charts for improved outpatient medical records.
- To enhance the functionality and efficiency of clinical documentation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic layout planning techniques from industrial engineering were applied.
- A committee of physicians collaborated on the redesign of office charts.
Main Results:
- A novel outpatient document with unique features was developed.
- The redesigned chart system forms a cohesive unit, eliminating duplication.
- Enhanced medicolegal safeguards were integrated into the new documentation system.
Conclusions:
- The redesigned office charts offer a more efficient and secure approach to outpatient medical records.
- Application of industrial engineering principles can optimize clinical documentation systems.
- The new system addresses functional deficits and improves patient record management.