A Mobile Post Anesthesia Care Unit Order Reminder System Improves Timely Order Entry

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Health Informatics
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Timely order placement in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is crucial for patient care.
• Automated reminder systems integrated with computerized ordering offer potential benefits but require further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of automated PACU order reminders on the timeliness of order placement by anesthesia providers.
• To investigate the association between late order placement and PACU outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2019, to May 31, 2023.
• Patients with postprocedure orders were included, excluding direct ICU transfers and those involved in system pilot testing.
• Logistic regression and survival analysis were used to evaluate the association between reminder system usage and order placement timeliness, controlling for patient, procedural, and provider variables.

Main Results:

• Automated reminders increased the odds of order placement before PACU admission by 51% (OR: 1.51; p ≤ 0.001).
• The incidence of late PACU orders decreased from 17.5% to 12.6% (p ≤ 0.001).
• For late orders, reminders were associated with 10% quicker placement (HR: 1.10; p < 0.001).
• On-time order placement correlated with reduced PACU duration, lower peak pain scores, and decreased need for antiemetics.

Conclusions:

• Automated order reminder systems are effective in promoting timely order placement prior to PACU arrival.
• The implementation of these systems can reduce order placement delays and positively influence key PACU outcomes.
• This technology represents a valuable tool for enhancing efficiency and patient care in the PACU.