Using information management to implement a clinical resource management program

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Informatics
• Process Improvement

Background:

• Details a 250-bed community hospital's implementation of the Clinical Resource Management (CRM) program.
• CRM involves a four-stage process: identifying improvement opportunities, forming a resource management team, implementing process changes, and measuring outcomes.
• A case study focused on congestive heart failure, with a task force optimizing emergency room (ER) treatment and disposition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of a Clinical Resource Management (CRM) program in a community hospital.
• To identify critical success factors and barriers in implementing a hospital-wide CRM program.
• To evaluate the impact of the CRM program on healthcare costs and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• The CRM program utilized a four-stage approach to process improvement.
• A congestive heart failure case study involved standardizing ER orders for diuresis.
• Data was collected to measure the impact on length of stay and cost of care.

Main Results:

• Average length of stay was reduced by 0.5 days for studied diagnoses.
• Average costs of care decreased by 12% for the ten diagnoses under study.
• No adverse results were observed; non-study diagnoses showed no significant improvement.

Conclusions:

• Critical success factors included adequate time for program promotion and securing support from information systems and physicians.
• Barriers included information system limitations and committee review delays.
• Significant investment in technology and personnel is necessary for effective information management in healthcare.